J 170: Honoring Karen E. Roth, Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, upon the occasion of being appointed President of the Society of Women Engineers

 Senate Resolution No. 170 BY: Senator GRIFFO HONORING Karen E. Roth, Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, upon the occasion of being appointed President of the Society of Women Engineers WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have devoted themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their community and the needs of its residents; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Karen E. Roth, Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, upon the occasion of being appointed President of the Society of Women Engineers; and WHEREAS, In recognition of this extraordinary accomplishment, Karen E. Roth will be honored by Mohawk Valley EDGE on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at The Stanley Theatre in Utica, New York; and WHEREAS, A resident of Stittville, New York, Karen E. Roth is an experienced Department of Defense leader in cyber, artificial intelligence, and digital engineering; she has used her skills in strategic thinking, communication, and partnership development to create a global ecosystem for the Air Force and is a trusted fiduciary for the nonprofit boards she has served; and WHEREAS, Karen E. Roth is one of five senior leaders for the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate; serving as Chief Engineer, she ensures technical excellence across the $1.5 billion portfolio on an international stage; and WHEREAS, In this capacity, Karen E. Roth also directs programming and focuses on strategic external partnerships to accelerate change and technical impact at the Air Force, which has resulted in the creation of the Innovare Alliance; Innovare is an impact-driven global community of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs advancing Air Force technology interests through specialized facilities and programming dedicated to technology transfer and open innovation; and WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to supporting women in STEM, Karen E. Roth has participated on several not-for-profit boards, including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) where, prior to her appointment as President, she has served as Treasurer and Director of Professional Excellence; and WHEREAS, As Karen E. Roth steps into her role as President of SWE, she will continue to carry out its mission to empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders while expanding the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrating the value of diversity and inclusion; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, she also serves as an advocate for women in other vital organizations such as the Girl Scouts of the United States of America; and WHEREAS, Karen E. Roth holds an executive MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, as well as a Bachelor's degree in software engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master's degree in systems engineering from Cornell University; she is currently completing an executive certificate in public leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Karen E. Roth, Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, upon the occasion of being appointed President of the Society of Women Engineers; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Karen E. Roth.