Draper (Clearfield, UT) VP and GM Julia MacDonough shared how an ROTC scholarship launched her into a 20-year career in defense innovation, space systems, and leadership—and how she balances mission-critical work with raising a family.
From Lasers to Lunar Landers: Julia MacDonough and the Future of Defense Technology
Clearfield, Utah - August 4, 2025
Julia Laurenzano MacDonough, Vice President and General Manager for Draper’s Air Force and Missile Defense Strategic Systems Business, has built an impressive career at the intersection of science, service, and leadership. A graduate of Duke University, she earned her degree in physics through an Air Force ROTC scholarship—an opportunity that helped set her on a path she never anticipated.
“My scholarship was based around physics, which later became my major,” MacDonough explains. “My journey to where I am now has been full of unexpected opportunities.”
After graduating, she earned a master’s degree in Imaging Science and Remote Sensing from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her early work as a laser physicist on active duty at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque introduced her to the kinds of cutting-edge technologies that would define her future.
“It was talking to people, learning, asking questions—learning about areas I never even knew existed,” she says.
Over the next 20 years, MacDonough built deep experience across the space and defense communities, working with organizations such as NASA, NOAA, and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). She later moved into international satellite communications and electronic warfare at BAE Systems, before arriving at Draper.
“Have a plan and write it in pencil,” she advises. “Keep your eyes open, because the best experiences were not the ones that I had heads down. I was open to taking the risk to try opportunities and experiences.”
What Draper Does
Draper is an independent, nonprofit engineering firm delivering advanced technical solutions to government, industry, and academia. Its mission is simple: “To develop and integrate technologies that achieve great strides in accuracy, efficiency, and utility.”
Draper’s work spans guidance, navigation & control (GN&C), biotechnology, cybersecurity, space systems, and missile defense. In 2024, the organization opened its new engineering and operations campus in Clearfield, Utah, strategically positioned to support Draper’s work with the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Hill AFB.
Further reinforcing that effort, in April 2025 Draper broke ground on a 30,000-square-foot Engineering, Innovation and Development Center at Hill Air Force Base, part of the Falcon Hill Business Park. Expected to house over 100 engineers and staff upon completion in fall 2026, the facility is designed to bring Draper’s core R&D—such as model-based systems engineering, advanced testing of internal measurement units, accelerometers, atomic clocks, and high-assurance microelectronics—closer to key aerospace and defense programs
Julia MacDonough noted, “Growing our presence in Utah underscores Draper’s commitment to the operational readiness and modernization requirements of our nation’s strategic deterrence programs,” highlighting Utah’s skilled workforce as key to Draper’s growth.
In her role, MacDonough leads research, development, and production programs for the U.S. Air Force and Missile Defense Agency. That includes ballistic missile guidance systems, missile defense systems, and navigation/control systems for hypersonic missiles.
Balancing Career and Family
Managing both a demanding career and a growing family hasn’t always been easy.
“When my middle child was born, I left the workforce for five years to be home full-time,” MacDonough recalls. “I started a business tutoring AP Calc and Physics… It kept me sharp and engaged. But that meant my days were from four in the morning until eleven at night. It was like I was living two full lives.”
She’s candid about the challenges of timing. “Sometimes an opportunity comes along, but it’s not the right time,” she says.
Building Teams and Growing People
At Draper, MacDonough leads with a focus on both mission success and people development.
“I lead a team, and we operate as a business,” she says. “We have something called Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibilities. We have to deliver on our customer commitments, execute programs, and meet our goals while staying on budget.”
She believes true leadership means growing those around you.
“I am most successful if I grow the people around me. It's like being a parent—you’re successful when your kids don’t need you anymore because you’ve given them the tools.”
That requires knowing what motivates her team.
“It’s about understanding people—what their passions are—and helping them get the right experience, whether it’s job training or classroom learning, to grow beyond their comfort zones.”
Meaningful Work, Real Impact
MacDonough says the purpose behind Draper’s projects is a powerful motivator.
“Draper is a really exciting place to be,” she says. “I'm not just doing my job—I know I'm working on technologies and programs that are designed to keep us safe, and that is motivating.”
Among Draper’s most visible contributions are its roles in the U.S. Nuclear Triad and the CP-12 Lunar Lander Program. The company’s heritage in lunar guidance goes back to the Apollo missions, and it continues to contribute to projects like ALHAT, COBOLT, SPLICE, GENIE, Lunar Prospector, Morpheus, Altair, HLS, and CLPS. Draper also partners with commercial space leaders like ispace and Blue Origin.
Beyond space, Draper works in biotechnology and software innovation, such as human-rated flight software—automation systems that dramatically reduce development time and cost.
Advice for the Next Generation
When asked what skills are essential in her field, MacDonough emphasizes the importance of listening and inclusion.
“Listening and creating the space for people to bring their thoughts and ideas forward,” she says. “I need people around me who have different thoughts, perspectives, and experiences to challenge me—and to challenge each other.”
She also encourages younger professionals to embrace uncertainty.
“Sometimes you might not have it all at the same time, because life can be full of ups and downs,” she says. “It’s never clean and tidy—it’s messy. So be comfortable with the mess.”
Her final advice: build your network early.
“Start to develop your personal board of directors as you go,” she says, “because those are the people who are going to advocate for you and help build your network.”
For more information about Draper, visit Draper.com.
Siya Jain is a senior at Cedar Valley High School in Eagle Mountain, Utah, aspiring to become a successful entrepreneur. Arianna Berchan-Bridges is a senior at Highland High School in Salt Lake City. She passionate about electrical and software engineering. Both Siya and Arianna are active in SheTech programs.