A national organization that recognizes Asian-American engineers for outstanding leadership and technical achievements honored three NAVAIR employees at a recent award ceremony.

Chyau Shen, director of NAVAIR Special Surveillance Programs, and Anh Vu, head of the Mission Systems Test and Evaluation Division for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), received awards during the Asian American Engineer of the Year (AAEOY) awards ceremony March 1 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel in California. Cam Donohue, Joint Strike Fighter Mission Systems lead, was unable to attend the ceremony but accepted the Asian American Most Promising Engineer award June 12 at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland.

Throughout her career, Donohue has worked with numerous fixed- and rotary-wing test programs, which she said allowed her to demonstrate technical excellence and leadership.

“I was just doing my job and doing what’s right, both ethically and for the organization and programs I’m involved in,” Donohue said. “I’m glad I can represent the organization by winning an award that was competed for nationally, in government services and industry.”

Vu, winner of the Asian American Engineer of the Year award, provides technical expertise in all mission systems test and evaluation disciplines for his workforce of 300 government engineers, scientists and technicians, as well as 280 DoD support contractors.

“I feel honored, thankful and blessed to have been nominated to represent a group of highly talented engineers that I’m very proud of,” Vu said. “I’ve always been aware that I’m looked upon as an Asian-American, and conduct my daily life accordingly. This award emphasizes that I need to continue to act as an ambassador for this group when I’m around others, both at work and off work.”

Shen, recipient of the Asian American Technical Executive of the Year award, has developed several rapid-response solutions to urgent DoD needs, developing both ground-based and unmanned air vehicle surveillance systems using advanced technologies. Shen’s efforts have led to systems being quickly adapted, tested an