Title: Senior Software Engineer
Company: Bell Helicopter Textron
Location: Arlington, Texas, United States
Wilma L. Howell Davis, senior software engineer at Bell Helicopter Textron, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in software engineering.
With over four decades years of experience, Ms. Davis has established a successful career in software engineering. She currently serves as a senior software engineer at Bell Helicopter Textron, a role she has held since 2014. In this capacity, she develops mathematical models of aircraft parts, simulates threat environments involving aircraft, and models potential threats. Bell Helicopter is known for its leadership in producing commercial and military vertical-lift aircraft, including the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. She also served as the engineering chief of simulation integration at Bell Helicopter from 2012 to 2014 and as a software engineer in the flight simulation area at Bell Helicopter in 2001.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Davis worked as a staff software engineer at global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics, later acquired by Lockheed Martin, beginning in 1983. Laying a solid educational foundation, she completed three years of coursework at The University of Texas at Austin before earning a Bachelor of Science in computer science engineering with a minor in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1983. She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, a global organization that empowers women in engineering and technology by providing opportunities for professional development, networking, education, and advocacy to advance gender equity in the field. and Delta Sigma Theta, a historically African American sorority.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Davis takes great pride in creating a robot arm for the children of the Expanding Your Horizons program, teaching them how to code the arm using specific inputs. Another highlight of her career is founding a group at her church to mentor children aged 12 to 18, using technology as a tool for discipleship and growth. In light of her impressive undertakings, she has received numerous honors, including the Women of Color in STEM Outstanding Achievement Award in 2024 and the All-Star Award from the Society of Women Engineers that same year. She was also a nominee for Bell Helicopter’s 2021 award program and received the Black Engineer of the Year Legacy Award from Bell Helicopter in the same year. Earlier accolades include a nomination for the Black Engineer of the Year by CC Magazine in 2001 and an academic scholarship from The University of Texas at Austin in 1978.
Ms. Davis attributes her success to the encouragement of her college professors, who pushed her to step outside her comfort zone. Looking to the future, she plans to retire from Bell Helicopter and transition to teaching technology-related subjects at the college level, with a focus on historically Black colleges and universities. She is currently finishing her master’s degree and intends to pursue a doctorate. In advising aspiring professionals, she encourages the younger generation to pursue their passions relentlessly and believe in their ability to succeed, regardless of external discouragement. As the only African American female in her class, alongside one white female and a majority of male peers, she has faced significant challenges. However, these experiences have fortified her resolve and character to keep on her path.
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