Speaking & panels
Book Emily
CDR Emily "Hawking" Shilling brings two decades of aerospace engineering, naval aviation, and organizational leadership to keynotes, panels, and workshops worldwide. Her talks combine operational credibility with practical frameworks for resilience, belonging, and innovation.
Topic areas
Organizational Resilience & Belonging
How leaders build teams that endure — drawing on lessons from naval aviation, test piloting, and serving as president of SPARTA Pride, a 2,200+ member organization supporting transgender and non-binary service members. Frameworks for psychological safety, professional resilience, and creating cultures where everyone can contribute at full capacity.
Innovation in Complex Systems
The MAE Framework — Mission-Aligned, Acquisition-Viable, Engineering-Realizable — as a lens for navigating trade-offs in complex programs. Drawn from Next Generation Air Dominance, unmanned carrier aviation, and test & evaluation experience.
LGBTQ+ Advocacy & Visibility
As the first openly transgender naval aviator to regain flight status, Emily speaks candidly about navigating identity in high-stakes institutions, the cost of exclusion, and what genuine inclusion looks like in practice — not just in policy.
Women & LGBTQ+ in STEM
From Kepler Space Telescope to naval test pilot to program manager — a career-spanning perspective on breaking barriers in aerospace and engineering. Practical advice for early-career professionals and organizational leaders on building the pipeline.
Civic Courage & Litigation Under Pressure
As lead plaintiff in Shilling v. United States — a case that reached the Supreme Court — Emily speaks candidly about the decision to sue the federal government while still serving, navigating public scrutiny, and what it means to use the legal system as a form of service. A frank conversation about institutional courage, calculated risk, and the long arc of justice.
Past engagements
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AIAA Women at SciTech Panel
Leadership and inclusion in aerospace engineering
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Pentagon Pride Month Keynote
Diversity, belonging, and defense readiness
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British Embassy — Washington, D.C.
LGBTQ+ leadership and transatlantic policy perspectives
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Out & Equal Workplace Summit
LGBTQ+ Corporate Advocate of the Year — 2022 Outies
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SPARTA Leadership Forums
Professional resilience and belonging for LGBTQ+ service members
Formats
- Keynote 30–60 min with Q&A
- Panel Moderator or panelist
- Workshop Half or full day, interactive
- Fireside chat Intimate interview format
- Podcast / media Available for recorded interviews
Availability
Available for virtual and in-person engagements. Please contact at least 4–6 weeks in advance for scheduling.
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