Powers, Doris Hurt, 1927-2009
Dates
- Existence: January 17, 1927 - February 9, 2009
Biographical Information
Doris Hurt Powers, known as "Dodi," started flying at the age of 14 and received her commercial and flight instructor ratings by the time she was 20 years old.
After starting college as a music major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, she transferred to Purdue University to join the first class of the new School of Aeronautics, graduating in 1949.
While her husband was in the military during the 1950s, Powers continued to teach flying in various capacities while living a globally mobile army family life with her husband and three children. Powers was active in the Civil Air Patrol and became a major and squadron leader. She also flew airplanes and worked as both a flight instructor and a check pilot. Due to the fact that women were not allowed to teach aviation in the military, Powers remained a civilian and instead taught aircraft, engines, and navigation to off-duty soldiers. She became the president and owner of both Test and Evaluation International Services, Inc. and of Shielding Technologies, Inc. She also served as the owner and president of Test and Evaluation International, Inc.
After her husband's retirement from the army, the couple started two businesses together and Dodi started her own product research and development company called Shielding Technologies, Inc. Powers served on many boards and committees, was a fellow of the Society for Women Engineers, was recognized as a Purdue "Old Master" in 1995, received the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award in 2006. Powers, and piloted a BT 13 airplane during a celebration by the Indiana Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in 2008. Doris Hurt Powers passed away in February of 2009.