Duke Legacy Continues

Former Duke Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) PhD student Ugonna Ohiri is this year’s recipient of the outstanding Dr. Christopher Jones Legacy Award. The Career Communications Group’s U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology Magazine grants this award to individuals who have made incredible strides in both the engineering field and community service. 

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the 2025 BEYA Dr. Christopher T. Jones Legacy Award,” Ohiri said. “This recognition holds significant meaning for me both professionally and personally. It’s a reminder of the responsibility we have as professionals to contribute to both our technical fields and the broader community.”

As a current senior research and development technologist at Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC) within their Future Technical Leaders (FTL) program, Ohiri has invested countless hours of “hard work, consistency, dedication and innovative spirit” to advance the engineering field. 

On a personal level, Ohiri is dedicated to continuing to use his work to advocate for STEM education and outreach programs to ultimately promote mentorship, diversity, inclusion, and equity within the field. Currently, he serves as a mentor within the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program and National Capital Area and also is a member of the Pratt Alumni-Student Mentoring Program.

Importantly, Ohiri said that the award reinforces the idea that “achievements are not just measured by our technical contributions, but also by the positive impact we make on the lives of others.” 

Ohiri has always had a passion for helping people and mentoring the next generation of engineers, long before his time at NGSC. When pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, and later earning a master and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at Duke, he looked to science to fulfill this goal. 

“My ‘why’ is rooted in a desire to solve real-world problems and drive technological advancements that benefit our society,” Ohiri said. “Engineering offers the perfect avenue to blend creativity and technical knowledge to develop solutions that can lead to significant progress and societal benefits.”

Ohiri also acknowledges the importance of his work in positively influencing aspiring engineers from underrepresented communities, as it encourages them to pursue this field and excel in it. 

He also said that awards like the Dr. Christopher Jones Legacy are so crucial to the advancement of engineering and the shaping of society because they recognize contributions from diverse backgrounds, promoting inclusivity within the field.    

“Celebrating diversity enriches the profession, enhances creativity and introduces varied perspectives to problem-solving,” Ohiri said. “Overall, integrating awards that honor engineering excellence and diversity helps foster an environment where innovative, inclusive and impactful engineering can thrive, driving societal advancement and inspiring the next generation of engineers.”

Congratulations again, Ohiri on your amazing accomplishments. The Duke community cannot wait to see all that you will do next.