Growing up in Canberra, Flying Officer Warren had a passion for mathematics, science and aviation and excelled at her studies at an early age.
"I was always a problem solver and was keenly interested in aerospace, so engineering was a logical career choice for me," she said.
With these interests and talents combined, Flying Officer Warren knew joining the Australian Defence Force was a 'no-brainer' as she sought to work with like-minded people who wanted to contribute to something larger than themselves.
"The opportunities to work with dedicated individuals and cutting-edge technology were strong motivations of mine in pursuing a career in the military," Flying Officer Warren said.
"Defence also provides a wealth of opportunities to travel and experience things very few people will ever experience, which was very appealing to me.
"Experiencing resourcefulness and innovation first-hand in both the aviation and engineering contexts during my career to date has also been very fulfilling."
"The opportunities to work with dedicated individuals and cutting-edge technology were strong motivations of mine in pursuing a career in the military."
Following appointment, and with a foundational knowledge of engineering, Flying Officer Warren completed a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering through the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra in the Chief of Defence Force Students Program, receiving Honours Class 1 and the University Medal.
She also completed her training at the Australian Defence Force Academy during this time. Together, these experiences provided her with the tools to solve complex problems.
"In my experience, the ADF prepares you for your role within the organisation and sets you up for career success through its learning pathways, with ongoing opportunities to grow, learn, collaborate and contribute to the Defence mission," she said.
"Throughout my studies and in the workplace, it has been fascinating to see what solutions you can come up with as a team when faced with a problem and, indeed, how these solutions contribute to the fulfilment of wider organisational objectives."
Flying Officer Warren's curiosity and passion for learning, research and innovation were recognised when she was invited to present her winning paper from a regional conference the year before at the 2024 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) International Student Conference, held in conjunction with the AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida earlier this year.
"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and share insights and knowledge with students from across the globe at such a diverse and dynamic innovation forum," she said.
SciTech is the largest event for aerospace research, development and technology in the world.
More than 6000 attendees from 45 countries gathered to learn about the breakthrough science, revolutionary technologies, and next-generation capabilities that are transforming aerospace and making a positive impact on humanity.
Flying Officer Warren said attending the conference was the experience of a lifetime and a career highlight.
"Throughout my studies and in the workplace, it has been fascinating to see what solutions you can come up with as a team when faced with a problem and, indeed, how these solutions contribute to the fulfilment of wider organisational objectives."
"SciTech provided me with an invaluable experience, where I was able to learn from some of the top scientists and engineers from around the world."
At the conference, Flying Officer Warren spoke to one of her published papers, 'Development and Testing of a Stereo Photogrammetry System for Multi-Axis Optical Tracking of Free-Flight Models', which she completed during her final year of university.
"It was an honour to represent the Australian Defence Force and present my paper to a range of stakeholders within the science and engineering fields," she said.
Also in the final year of her studies, Flying Officer Warren was nominated for the Indo Pacific 2023 National Innovation Award for her leadership in the conceptual design of a recoverable sonar hybrid uncrewed aerial vehicle.
Her team's work on the design was published by the Australian Naval Institute and further work is being prepared for submission to the 2024 International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding held in Genoa in September.
"I am truly honoured to be acknowledged for my efforts and grateful for the opportunities I have been given," she said.
Flying Officer Warren now works as an air vehicle engineer within the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), and helps to deliver and sustain critical capability across the ADF.
"CASG has been a really interesting place to start my career in engineering. I have developed an appreciation for the sheer volume of work required to acquire a new platform and indeed to ensure the appropriate arrangements are in place to sustain it into the future," she said.
"There are so many benefits to joining the ADF beyond what is advertised on paper. I have found a community of people who share my values and interests, who challenge me to think outside the box, and who have supported and encouraged me to make the most of every opportunity."
