Mishaal Ashemimry

Mishaal Ashemimry is a Saudi-American Aerospace Engineer, Aerospace Entrepreneur, commercial pilot, speaker and influencer, who was born in the US and spent a few years of her early life in Saudi, where her fascination with space started. More specifically, she was inspired at the age of six while gazing at the stars in the Unayzah desert. To feed her curiosity, she decided to learn how to build rockets that will enable her to explore space and one day take her there. As the First female aerospace engineer in the GCC, she realized that this title comes with an enormous responsibility to inspire others to join her field as well as other STEM programs. To reach the youth, she used social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube to educate her follower about her field, experiences, and to inspire them to have a dream and perseverance to pursue it. As a result, she became a public figure and speaker at many events in the GCC and globally. Her influence garnered the attention of Macy’s, Pepsico and Dubai TV in campaigns to educate and empower youth. Ashemimry is a consultant in her field and was a professor at the University of Miami Mechanical and Aerospace Department. Currently, Ashemimry is an International Astronautical Federation Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and a special advisor to the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency with a strong focus on developing Saudi’s role in the global space market. Prior to joining the Saudi Space Agency, Ashemimry was a Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Consultant for Northrop Grumman in the US. Moreover, she is living her passion everyday by educating and inspiring others through conferences, webinars, and her social media channels. While based in Miami, Florida, she founded MISHAAL Aerospace at age 26, to pursue her ultimate dream of building rockets. Her company’s objective was to design and build their own rockets to launch small satellites (500 kg) or less to Low Earth Orbit. Previously, she worked for Raytheon Missile Systems’ Aerodynamics Department and contributed to twenty-two different rocket programs. Her professional experience and areas of expertise include aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, vehicle design, predictive simulation and analysis and rocket stage-separation analysis, with a strong focus on computational tool development. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, and two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Aerospace Engineering and in Applied Mathematics, also from Florida Institute of Technology. Her academic focus included: experimental and analytical aerodynamics, rocket design and nuclear thermal propulsion.