Ilya Espino de Marotta

Ilya Espino de Marotta
Ilya Espino de Marotta in 2016
EducationTexas A&M Galveston, Universidad Santa María La Antigua
SpousePeter Marotta
ChildrenMarco G. Marotta Espino, Peter A. Marotta Espino, Andrea N. Marotta Espino
Engineering career
DisciplineMarine engineering
Employer(s)Panama Canal Authority
ProjectsPanama Canal Expansion

Ilya R. Espino de Marotta[1] is an engineer best known for leading the Panama Canal Expansion Project as Executive Vice President for Engineering in the Panama Canal Authority.[2] Espino de Marotta was appointed to the role in 2012 and was the first woman in the history of the Panama Canal Authority to hold the role. Espino de Marotta said that some male colleagues questioned her appointment and is quoted as saying, "I wear the pink hard-hat to make a statement that a woman can do this job."[3][4] Marotta describes the Panama Canal Expansion project as "a dream job for any engineer". Alongside responsibility for the physical expansion of the canal Marotta also oversaw other investment projects including, all the construction contracts, new bridges and purchasing. Every month during the expansion phase of the project, she directed a videography team from a helicopter to monitor work on the canal.[5]

  1. ^ McDonnell, Patrick J.; Kitroeff, Natalie (26 June 2016). "Panama Canal's Big Moment". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–32. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Speck, Harrison (8 February 2016). "Interview: Ilya Espino de Marotta, Executive Vice President, Panama Canal Authority". The Cornell Policy Review. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. ^ Rees, Matt (22 June 2016). "Panama Canal engineer's pink hard-hat is feminist statement". European Investment Bank. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Galveston Grad Heads Completed Panama Canal Expansion Project". Texas A&M Today. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  5. ^ Zionts, Suzanne (23 September 2015). "Real engineers wear pink: a profile of Ilya Marotta". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 3 January 2017.