Business Women Awards 2019 | CAREER ACHIEVER
Molly Donohue Magee, Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance
“IMAGINE HOW MUCH of the world is water,” said Molly Donohue Magee, executive director of the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance.
She cites statistics showing 70% of the Earth’s surface as water, with 80% of people living near the coast, 90% of trade transport done via water and 95% of internet traffic being transmitted via underwater cables.
“I think that shapes why the underwater domain is important,” she said.
Passion about possibilities that lie beneath drives her many achievements in her SENEDIA role and other positions she’s held over the past four decades, including as a civilian working for the U.S. Navy. This opportunity also fuels her desire to mentor others in the defense industry.
Before SENEDIA, Magee had served from 1993 to 2010 as the first chief financial officer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, managing a $1 billion annual budget. She was also the first female department head at NUWC, in charge of technical-risk assessments for major submarine systems.
In leading SENEDIA, a Middletown-based nonprofit started in 2013, she champions the southeastern New England defense and technology sector, of which the underwater domain figures prominently. She has the skills and experience to connect partners in order to maximize potential and create mutual benefit. Where she sees need, she creates programs and initiatives.
“It’s about getting innovation technology and industry to work together,” said Magee.
In addition to her role with SENEDIA, Magee created and leads its strategic partner organizations: the Maritime Cybersecurity Center and the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium. Both initiatives were the result of SENEDIA member surveys, she said, with SENEDIA responding to the results by forming the groups in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
“Molly is one of those rare, exceptional talents that has connected people and ideas across government, industry and academia over her career,” said David C. Kring, vice president of science and technology at Navatek, an engineering company in South Kingstown.
“She has an effective focus on business and personally represents a huge draw to the regional economy. … I think it’s no stretch to call Molly a state and national treasure.”
Magee grew up in a military family that moved around a lot, but she eventually settled on making Rhode Island her home. She was a math major who graduated from Salve Regina University, and has an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.
On Magee’s watch, SENEDIA has grown from an all-volunteer group to a $1 million organization with five employees and over 125 companies as members.
SENEDIA’s Maritime Cybersecurity Center, which is focused on cyber-workforce development, and the alliance’s Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium have made great strides. UTIC now has more than 230 member companies from 35 states.
Magee also started Defense Innovation Days a few years ago – an annual, three-day event bringing companies and policymakers together to explore ways to work together. Sponsors have included The Raytheon Co., Northrup Grumman Corp. and General Dynamics Corp.
As someone who has forged her own path in a male-dominated industry, Magee believes in mentoring others, as others mentored her.
“When I started out working for the NUWC, there were not a lot of women,” Magee said. “One of the things I focus on are people and mentoring. It’s important, even with school-aged kids, to let them know how important working in this domain is and how great the benefits are.” She also points out the importance of providing insights into careers, showing kids that math is cool and how it can be used in real life.
As part of that, Rhode Island Women in Science and Engineering – launched by SENEDIA in 2017 – focuses on mentoring and education. It is a resource for women, professors, K-12 teachers and college students, presenting opportunities such as internships.
“I succeeded with people willing to mentor me,” said Magee. “If I can help someone get ahead, that is very worthwhile. We have to give back.”
