There is no stopping Maj. Zori Drew.

A growing presence in the field of technical science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), she recently received the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association's (AFCEA) Under 40 Award and the Women in Engineering: Rising Star Award.

"I get after anything that's in my path," began the Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Officer, 1st Brigade, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. "If you go back through my entire education experiences, I've been on every wall, making a statement, hitting the gym and studying and working hard to leave a legacy for my family name."

Born in Augusta, Georgia, Drew traveled the world with her active duty parents, both of whom were in the Signal Corps. Her parents ran what Drew called a "strict Army household" and made sure that she had every opportunity to excel.

"They placed me in all sports, and I mean every single sport you could think of," continued Drew, "and growing up in the Army world was fun."

While attending Kadena High School in Okinawa, Japan, Drew excelled in computer science, information technology, basketball, softball and volleyball.  After graduation she enrolled in Brigham Young University - Hawaii on a basketball scholarship when she majored in computer science.

"I've always been a nerd, she added, "and I love computers and anything gadget wise."

An accomplished basketball player in college, Drew thought she might play professional basketball; however, she realized that she would like to emulate her parents and serve in the Army. 

Halfway through college, she earned a two year Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) scholarship. 

"Some of my parents' friends were still in the Army, so going into the Army was familiar," she continued. "Even my ROTC professor of Military Science knew my mother and father from having served with them." Drew was commissioned in May 2011.

After serving as an Ordnance, Maintenance Control and Logistics officer, she was selected as a branch transfer into the Cyber Branch and assigned to the Cyber Protection Brigade in 2016.  After a number of assignments within the Cyber Branch, she became the CEMA Officer for 1st Brigade, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

"We achieve and maintain superiority in cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) in order to provide a decisive advantage to commanders at all levels in a multi-domain battle," Drew explained.

"From our point of view, we deal in the non-kinetic realm of 0s and 1s as we shift fire within cyberspace and the EMS, and I have the capability to bring kinetic effects right where the enemy is," she said.

Drew added that 1-2 SBCT will be deploying to Korea in October and that the CEMA is well prepared.

"We are proud to be cyber nerds, and we are exceptionally thankful for the schoolhouse instructors at the Cyber Center of Excellence and our leadership chain here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord," concluded Drew "for preparing us to fight our nation's wars."