Lillian Zarrelli Ryals Named MITRE Vice President

Ryals, who has more than 30 years of experience working in the aviation sector across a broad range of National Airspace System (NAS) modernization and operations activities, has been leading CAASD's work in air traffic management, communication navigation and surveillance, system operations, safety, and security for the FAA. As deputy general manager, she will focus on strategic planning, sponsor and stakeholder engagement, and work program oversight. Ryals will continue her role as corporate lead for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) the wide-ranging transformation of the NASaligning MITRE's NextGen work across multiple government agencies, including the FAA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Lillian is highly respected at MITRE and in the broader aviation community for her strategic vision, strong technical skills, and outstanding customer engagement capabilities, said Alfred Grasso, MITRE president and CEO. Her promotion recognizes the substantial contributions she has made to customer outcomes in areas including aeronautical telecommunications, airspace and procedure design, and airport capacity.

Ryals is an active participant in aviation industry committees. She serves on the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee Subcommittee and is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Air Traffic Control Association, and the Aero Club. She was elected chair of the board of directors of Women in Aerospace earlier this year. Ryals holds a bachelors degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, University College.