The night before Karen Archambault started as a software engineer on the U-2 Dragon Lady program, the Red Sox beat the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in Game 2 of the 1986 World Series. “The Red Sox were in that year, and I hosted a get-together to watch Game 1. The following Monday, I was at our Nashua, N.H. office starting on the U-2 program,” said Archambault.
While it would take another 18 years before the Red Sox would break their World Series curse, Karen remembers the series as the start of nearly 40 years of direct support to the AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS) that protects those who fly the venerable Dragon Lady.
In recognition of her nearly four decades of commitment to the platform, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and the U.S. Air Force U-2 program office recognized Karen during a March 2026 program meeting. The team broke away from their normal programming and gathered in a separate conference room for a meeting that held an air of secrecy befitting the U-2’s legacy.
As the team questioned the purpose of their gathering, Dave Harrold, the vice president and general manager of the Countermeasure and Electromagnetic Attack Solutions; Peter Gryn, the U.S. Air Force Air Combatant Command’s U-2 Operations Branch chief; and Karen were called to the front of the room.
As Karen watched in surprise, Harrold addressed the room, praising her unmatched work ethic and dedication, particularly in supporting multiple block upgrades, and calling her out as a great example of what it means to fulfill BAE Systems’ missions.
“The electromagnetic warfare capabilities we provide to the U-2 fit squarely with our mission of We Protect Those Who Protect Us®, and Karen has been an enduring cornerstone of that promise,” said Harrold. He then presented her with a lifetime achievement award and an Electronic Systems Challenge Coin, honoring her strong commitment to the customer.
Gryn, who is also a retired U-2 pilot, highlighted Karen’s pioneering work as a female engineer, her consistent contributions through multiple program transitions and urgent upgrades, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from colleagues who lauded her expertise and dedication. Gryn emphasized that while Karen’s work was long-lasting, her humble, direct, and solution-oriented mindset makes her a great teammate.
“This program could not have survived, making as much progress as it has, without Karen,” said Gryn. Gryn drew everyone’s attention to a small table at the front of the room where an object was hidden under a green cloth. He pulled back the fabric to unveil a decommissioned piece of BAE Systems’ ADS electromagnetic warfare system, retrofitted with a video display screen. The team watched silently with Karen as a photo montage of her career played on the screen. Gryn then reached into the back of the black box to reveal a decommissioned glove from a U-2 pilot’s pressure suit—an essential piece of flying at the edge of space—which he also presented to the long-time software engineer.
Reflecting on her career, Karen only expressed gratitude for the experience, opportunities, and people she served alongside in protecting the warfighter and defending her country. Arriving on the program as a junior software engineer working on support equipment, she gradually expanded her work to include hands-on activities with hardware and field travel.
While the team was never overly large, there was a breadth of experience available, and the others on the program allowed her to explore and dive deep where she had interest.
As the government talks about retiring the U-2, which saw its first operational flight in 1956, Karen believes there is still a lot of mission life left in the aircraft.
She believes that centering on protecting and supporting the warfighter allows success to follow, and she hopes her day-to-day actions have been an example for others to follow. In her impromptu remarks to close out the presentation, Karen expressed humility and gratitude for her colleagues. “I’m glad to have had this opportunity to work on a very special program with a dedicated group of people in the program and customer community.”
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Dave Harrold stands with Karen Archambault as she displays the ES Challenge Coin, lifetime achievement award, and U-2 memorabilia presented to her for her strong commitment to the customer.
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