Aileen Fahme holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, San Diego and an MBA from the University of Redlands. Aileen works at Solar Turbines as the Manager of Logistics and Shipping for the Package Systems Operations (PSO) Group.

Aileen has dedicated herself to inspiring the next generation by volunteering with Solar Turbines’ SWE employee resource group on outreach activities and was the SWE-SD FY22 and FY23 Recording Secretary for the Executive Council and the Outreach Committee Executive Sponsor. She has led many outreach engagements including the SWE booth at the “Engineering Day at the Mall” and the regional FIRST Robotics competition. Her recent volunteering activities include SWE Outreach event coordinator/leader for the San Ysidro STEM Fair, speaker for Westview High School SWENext Club, presenter for the Women in STEM Day, and speaker for the IME 2024 Women in Manufacturing Engineering Panel. The SWE-SD Section recognized Aileen’s contributions by awarding her the Outstanding Engineer Award and the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and most recently, she was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a Woman of Influence in Engineering 2024.

While Aileen is a leader within the SWE-SD organization, she has also held leadership positions through many roles within Solar Turbines. Aileen was the Subject Matter Expert and eventually the Group Lead for her role as a Project Applications Engineer. Her experience as a Group Lead prepared her for her current role as a Manager of Logistics and Shipping for Solar Turbines, where she oversees a team of twelve employees.

Aileen’s people-first approach and dedicated advocacy for women in STEM has solidified her reputation as a respected leader. As President of SWE-SD Executive Council President for FY25, Aileen is looking forward to continue advancing the SWE mission through professional development, member engagement, outreach initiatives, networking opportunities and most importantly, she is very excited to connect with new section members while reconnecting with current ones!

Dr. Tracy Nguyen is a distinguished advocate for STEM diversity and outreach, epitomizing a profound commitment to the mission of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Since joining SWE-San Diego in 2019, she has significantly influenced the organization as Outreach Chair for FY22 and FY23 and as a dedicated SWE Counselor for several SWENext clubs, enhancing SWE-SD's reputation and impact through active participation and extensive community involvement. As Outreach Chair, Dr. Nguyen spearheaded the successful "Girls in STEM Inspiration Day," recognized as the WE Local 2023 Outstanding Outreach Event, and she is enthusiastic about extending this impactful event into its fourth year in FY25.

Beyond SWE-SD, Dr. Nguyen is a valued member of numerous STEM committees, boards, and organizations. She is a devoted mentor, volunteer, and judge with FIRST Robotics and a community partner with the Girl Scouts, with her mentorship nationally recognized by the SWE Sparks Award at WE23.

Re-elected as Vice President for FY25, Dr. Nguyen exemplifies leadership excellence by continuing to build a robust network for SWENexters and collegiate members, strengthening connections between aspiring engineers and the professional community. She is eager to collaborate with the FY25 Executive Council to advance the initiatives she spearheaded last year, fostering innovation and growth within the organization. Her passion for empowering the next generation of engineers and her relentless advocacy for inclusivity in STEM inspire all who work with her. Ultimately, Dr. Nguyen remains steadfast in her commitment to making a lasting impact for women in engineering, driving positive change toward a more inclusive and equitable future.

Cassidy Thornbury is a water resource engineer with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and M.S. in Civil Engineering from SDSU. She works at Carollo Engineers, a firm that specializes in the planning, design, and construction of water and wastewater facilities. After 2.5 years of interning, she has shifted to a full-time staff professional position and has now been with the company almost 6 years. She grew up with an interest in engineering but also has immense passion for the environment and the natural world, making her a perfect fit at Carollo Engineers. When she is not spending time with friends and family, she is out hiking and exploring the trails and beaches of San Diego.

During her time at SDSU, she was involved in the SWE collegiate section along with other engineering organizations where she took on several officer positions to build leadership skills. Her favorite events to attend were always the ones involving outreach and socializing as she got to interact and connect with peers as well as the community. Being able to share her love for engineering and inspiring others to pursue their dreams has always been an important part of her life. When she was in grade school, there were no dedicated clubs and outreach events for STEM exploration (especially ones including girls), so she makes every effort to support these opportunities, hoping to provide the insight and guidance that she did not have.

Since college, she has been actively involved in the SWE San Diego Membership Engagement committee and served as the FY21 Community Outreach Chair and K-12 Outreach Co-Chair and FY24 Recording Secretary. She also serves as the office ambassador for Carollo Cares, a community outreach program at her work, and has led fundraising events for Water for People to help provide clean, safe drinking water for people in other parts of the world. She is excited to serve as the FY25 Treasurer, her attention to detail and organizational skills makes her the perfect fit for the role.

Kathleen is a mechanical engineer with over a decade of experience working in manufacturing and supply chain in the technology and medical device industries. She’s always had an interest in designing and building things which was supported during her high school years through a program for girls interested in STEM . This program offered Kathleen first hand exposure to various career paths and the opportunity to meet professional role models working in STEM. She first joined SWE through her collegiate chapter, becoming an active member again in 2021 after a coworker encouraged re-joining SWE as a professional. She volunteers with her company's Women in STEM program, coordinating a number of SWE initiatives to help connect and support professional women in engineering. Kathleen enjoys volunteering with SWE San Diego and participating in various Outreach, Member Engagement, and Professional Development events throughout the year. She's excited to support SWE in FY25 and looking forward to engaging with our SWE San Diego Members and the wider San Diego STEM community in the coming year.

Kathleen holds both her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University. She works as a Staff Engineer in the MedTech industry.

Debra Kimberling, SWE Fellow, is an aerospace engineer who has worked in industry, government, and academia. She is extremely grateful for her SWE leadership experiences and mentors who encouraged her along the way. SWE has served a critical part of her workplace successes. Her SWE San Diego volunteerism has influenced her commitment to advocate for Engineering Society engagement. Today on behalf of SWE SD and several local engineering society chapters, she serves as the president of the nonprofit umbrella organization, the San Diego County Engineering Council. 

Recognized with the 2023 SWE Distinguished Service Award for her lifelong accomplishments advancing the SWE mission, Debra has served on the SWE boards at the Society and local SWE SD Section. She is a founding member of the SWE Late Career and Retiree (LCR) Affinity Group. One of her goals is to advance the visibility of SWE advocacy and pioneers. She is the SWE Legends lead - a program creating SWE pioneer Wikipedia profiles. 

Debra is passionate about supporting the successes of SWE SD. She has served on several strategic committees including advocacy, corporate connections, informal historian, speakers bureau, officer roles and as the you-name-it STEM competition judge. She established her company’s first Employee Resource Group dedicated to advancing DEI and the SWE mission.

She hopes to share the sense of joy and accomplishment to the SWE volunteer experience. SWE has something for everyone - from speakers to mentors, from early to late career and beyond. Join her and the entire SWE SD volunteer team. Volunteer today!