040 - Art of Engineering - Remembering Wally Funk Artwork

The Art of Engineering

A podcast dedicated to some of the top engineers who share something in common: They’re all women. Hosted by Denise McIntosh, CEO of Custom Powder Systems, who knows the unique challenges women face in this industry. You’ll hear from women who have overcome the odds and grown to be some of the most respected in their fields.

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The Art of Engineering

040 - Art of Engineering - Remembering Wally Funk

July 13, 2026 • Custom Powder Systems • Episode 40

0:00 | 20:43

In this special episode, we remember the life of Wally Funk, who passed away July 8th, 2026, at 87.

When she was 21, Mary Wallace "Wally" Funk, was selected to be one of 13 women to train for space flight in 1959. By this time, she had been an experienced pilot for over 5 years. Wally’s love of aeronautics led her to a life-long career in flight training, giving thousands of young pilots their first taste of flight. She worked for the FAA and was the first woman to be a lead investigator at the NTSB. Her dream of space flight finally came true in 2021 when she accompanied Jeff Bezos on the first human flight of . In this wide-ranging interview, Denise talks with Wally about her fascinating life inspiring young women to follow their dreams.