Stephanie Cosme, a 32-year-old testing engineer working for Air Force contractor Sumaria Systems, LLC, tragically lost her life during ground testing on a MQ-9A Reaper drone in California on Sept. 7, 2023. The U.S. Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board's report revealed that her trainer's rushed instructions and failure to properly guide Cosme contributed to the accident.
However, a lawsuit filed by Cosme's family alleges a darker motive behind her death. They claim that the testing director, Derek Kirkendall, engaged in a campaign of gender and racial discrimination against Cosme, who was of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. The lawsuit contends that Kirkendall isolated Cosme, assigned her dangerous tasks, and made derogatory remarks, ultimately creating unsafe conditions that led to her death.
The lawsuit also references a previous hostile workplace complaint against Kirkendall by Cosme's predecessor, who is also Latina. Witness testimony from the Air Force investigation suggests a pattern of mistreatment towards Hispanic employees at the company.
Sumaria and Kirkendall deny any wrongdoing, with the company stating that they will address the allegations in court. The Air Force report did not cite discrimination as a factor in Cosme's death, but the family's lawyers argue otherwise based on witness accounts.
The lawsuit highlights the challenges of proving gender discrimination in cases involving deceased victims. Despite penalties imposed by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health for safety violations related to Cosme's death, the family seeks accountability through a jury trial and unspecified damages.
Stephanie Cosme's family remembers her as a dedicated engineer who navigated a male-dominated field with enthusiasm. Her tragic death has left them grappling with grief and seeking justice for the circumstances that led to her untimely passing.
