Women’s History Month – Gwendolyn Sykes
To kick off 2024’s Women’s History Month, Northeast Maritime Institute is proud to spotlight one of NMI’s esteemed Board Members, Gwendolyn Sykes.
Gwendolyn Sykes currently serves as the executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of SRC Inc. and also serves as treasurer for the SRC International board of directors. In her role at SRC Inc., Sykes directs investment management, pricing and cost analysis, and financial analyses of budgets, forecasts, and results. She also communicates SRC’s financial results to the company president, executive management, and board of trustees upon review of potential new acquisitions.
Prior to her role at SRC, Ms. Sykes served as the United States Secret Service Chief Financial Officer. In this role, she was responsible for the execution, development and stewardship of the Secret Service’s resources. She managed a financial team that included budget, financial management, relocation and financial systems experts. Ms. Sykes began working with the Secret Service in May 2012, bringing with her a wealth of financial management skills and talent for organizational transformation and enhancement. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Sykes is the first African American female to have served as the Chief Financial Officer at NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, she was responsible for the financial management and health of this $16 billion agency. Ms. Sykes led more than 500 finance professionals, located across ten geographically dispersed locations throughout the United States, in the development and execution of financial policies, processes and procedures. She has also served as Yale University’s Chief Financial Officer, the first in that university’s 306-year history, and Chief Financial Officer for Morehouse College.
Previous government experience includes working within the Department of Defense and in the office of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. She has been recognized for her achievements by Black Enterprise, Newsweek, the Today Show and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
