Alicia Wright
Featured State News

Alicia Wright: NCDOT Safety Preservation Engineer Oversees Safety Of 62 NC Airports

Arjun Sheth
Alicia Wright
Wright

Raleigh, NC – Women’s History Month is the perfect time to appreciate the women who are excelling in certain careers that have previously been predominantly male-dominated fields. Alicia Wright, a Civil Engineer, is one of these women. She currently works as a Safety Preservation Engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Division of Aviation, overseeing 62 general aviation airports in North Carolina.

Alicia Wright
As a Safety Preservation Engineer, Wright performs various tasks to ensure that airports are functioning at peak conditions. (submitted)

Wright grew up in San Antonio, TX. She earned a degree in Civil Engineering at NC A&T State University in Greensboro, inspired by a cousin who was an electrical engineer. This set her on the path to joining the NCDOT. “I was in the training program for DOT and decided to do additional training that lasts around 15-18 months, where you have to do mandatory construction and maintenance, and following that you get to pick a field,” she said, talking about her start in aviation. She picked aviation as it was one of the fields that particularly interested her.

As a Safety Preservation Engineer, Wright performs various tasks to ensure that airports are functioning at peak conditions while ensuring efficiency when it comes to budgetary use. “I oversee preventive maintenance before it gets to a point where an airport needs capital improvement or maintenance. We preserve the airfield as much as possible.” This sort of insight is valuable for an airport as it ensures that the entire airport and all the staff do not face any problems.

Alicia Wright
Wright is one of a few Black females in the predominantly male-dominated aviation industry. (submitted)

It is not surprising that this job, and the aviation industry in general, has been predominantly a male-dominated field. Wright spoke about how there are not a lot of women of color in this field especially. “At one of our conferences last year, I was the only Black female in this field.” She went on to talk about how this has also provided a fair bit of challenges, stating, “because of what I look like, I may not be taken seriously. So, I try to get better or change people’s opinion by putting in the work.” However, she noted that most of the challenges she faces do arise from her being relatively new to the job. Wright has been a Safety Preservation Engineer for about two-and-a-half years now and getting contractors to listen to her takes time. “Once they have worked with you a few times they are fine. That is just the stigma.”

COVID-19 did not pose much of a challenge for her and her co-workers. The pandemic, which has widely affected numerous industries seems to have had a smaller impact on the NCDOT’s Division of Aviation. “My position requires me to be in the field some days. With COVID and some of the issues going on in DOT in terms of budget, it was not too bad.” Wright also mentioned that they are picking up now and as more projects come in for the contractors to work on things are looking like they are getting back to normal functioning.

Wright oversees preventive maintenance before it gets to a point where an airport needs capital improvement or maintenance. (submitted)

Wright also commented on her future and what she wants to do in the coming years. As a devoted employee of the NCDOT, she wants to branch out to different divisions. “I would like to look in a different field within NCDOT, maybe traffic. I like more of the specialized units.” Branching out is something that Wright holds highly in her mind. She strongly believes that it is one of the best ways to learn and to ensure that you do not remain stagnant in any field.

Wright is truly an inspiration. She has entered a field that has been devoid of women of color in the past and has started to make a name for herself in the Department of Transportation. She has grown with the job and should serve as an inspiration for many future generations of women of color to chase their dreams into any field they wish. Advising future generations of girls, Wright stated, “I would give them the advice of making sure to get out and do as many internships as possible and do specialized units.” She also spoke of the importance of schooling and encourages all women to take that aspect extremely seriously.

This month, we celebrate Alicia Wright and the numerous women who made strides in industries and occupations that have been predominantly populated by men. It is women like Wright that will become role models for the next generations of female students, and workers.

During Black History Month, NCDOT spotlighted Alicia Wright:

For more information on the NC Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, please visit www.ncdot.gov/divisions/aviation/

60 thoughts on “Alicia Wright: NCDOT Safety Preservation Engineer Oversees Safety Of 62 NC Airports”

  1. Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

  2. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  4. Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue with your web site in web explorer, might check thisK IE nonetheless is the market chief and a big section of other people will miss your magnificent writing due to this problem.

  6. Hey would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  7. Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!

  9. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.

  10. I just like the helpful info you supply for your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and test once more right here regularly. I’m quite sure I’ll be informed many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the following!

  11. Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.

  12. The very crux of your writing whilst appearing reasonable originally, did not really sit well with me after some time. Someplace within the sentences you actually were able to make me a believer but only for a short while. I still have got a problem with your leaps in assumptions and one would do nicely to help fill in those gaps. In the event that you actually can accomplish that, I could certainly be fascinated.

  15. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  16. Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your web site in internet explorer, might test this… IE still is the marketplace chief and a huge portion of other people will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem.

  20. Appreciating the dedication you put into your website and in depth information you offer. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed material. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  21. I’m impressed, I need to say. Actually hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the difficulty is one thing that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very completely satisfied that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing relating to this.

  22. Simply desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity in your post is simply nice and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.

  25. I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?

  29. I’m curious to find out what blog system you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any suggestions?

  30. Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.

  31. I ran into this page accidentally, surprisingly, this is a amazing blog :-). The site owner has carried out a superb job of putting it together, the info here is really insightful. You just secured yourself a guarenteed reader.

  36. I haven’t checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  38. My brother recommended I may like this blog. He was once entirely right. This publish actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

  39. Pretty component to content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing on your feeds and even I success you get admission to persistently rapidly.

  47. Some really good info , Gladiola I discovered this. “So long as little children are allowed to suffer, there is no true love in this world.” by Isodore Duncan.

  48. I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am happy to express that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much no doubt will make certain to don’t fail to remember this web site and provides it a look regularly.

  50. I will immediately grab your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
    Do you’ve any? Please let me recognise so that I may just subscribe.
    Thanks.

  53. That is really fascinating, You’re a very professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to in quest of extra of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  54. I’m very happy to discover this site. I wanted to thank you for your time due to
    this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every part
    of it and I have you saved as a favorite to see new stuff in your web site.

  56. How did you get this to rank so high in search results? Are you using that new SEO hack James Jernigan talks about on his YouTube channel? It is working really well for my website too!

  59. We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new
    scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve performed a
    formidable task and our entire community will be grateful to you.

Comments are closed.