Sharon L. Giles
Director, Human Resources | Space Dynamics Lab (SDL)
Like all revolutionary leaders, Sharon L. Giles couldn’t do what she does without the support of an innovative team. Her guidance has not only enhanced SDL’s workforce capabilities but has positioned the company for sustainable growth in the competitive aerospace and defense industry.
Dedicated to facilitating growth and high performance in teams across the company, Sharon and her team have developed SDL’s Emerging Leaders program and Technical Coaches initiative. The Emerging Leaders program has revolutionized early talent identification and focused development, creating a robust pipeline of future leaders while significantly improving the retention of high-potential employees. The Technical Coaches initiative has elevated mentorship throughout the laboratory, with staff reporting substantial improvements in technical skills and professional growth.
New hires rank the SDL onboarding and overall employee experience as “among the best they have encountered,” thanks to Sharon and her team’s commitment. This attention to detail has contributed to impressive metrics, including a 2.6 percent reduction in turnover and a 31 percent increase in staff over four years.
Her data-driven approach is exemplified by a comprehensive talent acquisition growth study that projected SDL’s workforce expansion from 1,087 employees in 2022 to 2,392 by 2034. The study provided a strategic roadmap that has guided leadership decisions on everything from Employee Value Proposition refinement to compensation structures and work arrangements. Sharon and her team further enhanced visibility into workforce trends through the creation of the HR Quarterly Metrics Dashboard, a tool providing real-time insights into workforce trends, recruitment efficiency and employee engagement to enable proactive, informed decision-making.
Sharon’s commitment to inclusivity appears throughout her work, particularly in positioning SDL as a champion for women in the workplace. Under her advocacy, SDL earned recognition as one of 100 Companies Championing Women from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity in 2024. She has also provided support for SDL’s Women in Technology group, which offers networking, mentoring and educational opportunities.
Through her strategic vision, operational excellence and unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, Sharon has created a workplace environment at SDL where innovation thrives, diverse talent flourishes and organizational mission aligns with individual purpose — positioning SDL for continued success in advancing space science and national security.
