During her academic journey after high school, Dina R. Justes, PhD, earned three degrees in chemistry – a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1996, a Master of Science from Texas A&M University in 1998, and a Doctor of Philosophy from The Pennsylvania State University in 2004. While fulfilling her postdoctoral work as a researcher in chemistry at Purdue University between 2004 and 2007, Dr. Justes and her academic colleagues were part of a large group whose adviser sought funds to pay for everyone to complete their studies. As a result, to assist the adviser, Dr. Justes started working on the proposals to secure funding, discovering that she liked and was adept at the process.
Fatefully, a former graduate student from the group had recently started a company, needed help with proposals from someone with a background in spectrometry, and hired Dr. Justes, who has remained in the field ever since. In 2007, she joined Teledyne FLIR LLC, starting as a senior scientist and steadily advancing to coordinator, proposal writer, proposal manager, and now senior proposal manager. The company specializes in government contracts with a primary focus on developing and manufacturing advanced defense equipment such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive detection equipment – and is funded by the government to develop the technology. An industry veteran well-versed in procurement proposals, Dr. Justes collaborates with a highly productive and successful seven-member team of technical experts, six of whom are women.
Honored for her professional accomplishments and dedication, Dr. Justes has received from Teledyne FLIR LLC its coveted Pinnacle Award, an Equity Award, and team awards for various projects and programs. She believes her achievements stem from her excellent organizational skills, unwavering passion for science, and invaluable support from key educational and professional mentors. Further, she says that being part of a technical company like Teledyne FLIR LLC has allowed her to work on scientific and procurement proposals, proving to be a perfect blend of her interests and expertise. Extending her professional contributions and development beyond the company, Dr. Justes is a member of the Florida Sunshine Chapter of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.
For the foreseeable future, Dr. Justes plans to continue thriving in her career as a proposal writer and manager while encouraging others to consider joining the largely unfamiliar profession that she finds so rewarding. Away from work, she enjoys quality time with her family, including her two children and her sister, in addition to reading, history, drawing, time on the beach, and running.
