Norma Clayton Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected co-vice chair of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Board of Trustees Norma Clayton ’81 as a new member. The culmination of a yearlong process, Clayton is part of a new cohort of 111 national and 22 international members, bringing the NAE’s total U.S. membership to 2,388 and the number of international members to 310.

Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions received by an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature" and to "the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education,” according to the NAE.

Clayton was recognized for leadership in transforming manufacturing processes and supply chain management, and for innovative training programs for commercial aerospace industries. For more than 20 years, Clayton has served in various leadership capacities at The Boeing Company, most recently as the vice president for Learning, Training and Development. Joining Boeing in 1995, her first role was director of machine center, Military Aircraft & Missile Systems Group where she was the head of all fabrication operations. In 1998, she became the vice president, Lean Manufacturing and Quality then appointed vice president and general manager, Maintenance and Modification, Military Aerospace support in 2001. Clayton has held leadership roles throughout her career at Fortune 500 companies, including Lockheed Martin, General Electric, RCA and General Motors.

Clayton was the first African-American and woman to hold a senior manufacturing position at Boeing.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition and look forward to working with the distinguished members of the academy,” said Clayton.

Clayton continues to advocate for a number of organizations and holds board member positions at the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Leadership America, the American Society of Industrial Engineers, and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources. In addition, Clayton is on the Board of Directors of Nucor Corporation, the largest steel producer in the U.S., and is chairwoman of the board of trustees at Tuskegee University.

Clayton, a graduate of NJIT’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), has given generously to the university through her volunteer leadership and her support of EOP, NJIT’s general scholarship fund, and establishment of the Jacqueline V. Brown Memorial Scholarship in honor of her mother, a champion of education. 

In recognition of her impact on NJIT, the university recommissioned its tutoring center as the Norma J. Clayton '81 Learning Center.

“Norma’s election to the NAE is well-deserved and a point of pride for NJIT,” said President Joel S. Bloom. “In addition to her illustrious career, Norma has been a steadfast advocate, pioneer and leader in giving back to the NJIT community.”

Individuals in the newly elected NAE class will be formally inducted during the organization's annual meeting on Oct. 2, 2022. Founded in 1964, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering is a private, independent, nonprofit organization that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. Its mission is to advance the well-being of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and by marshaling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government on matters involving engineering and technology.