Pinay cited for IT achievements in US

Filipina-American Zenaida Fernandez Cunanan was recently conferred the Pamana ng Pilipino Award by President Arroyo for successfully establishing one of the leading software engineering firms in the United States.

Cunanan has established three information technology (IT) companies in the US that are providing the data needs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Defense.

Four years ago, she founded Galaxy Global Corp., which has become a leading design, engineering, analysis, testing, assessment, retooling and software improvement company in the US.

Galaxy Global, an integral part of NASA’s software independent validation and verification facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, provides support to NASA as a subcontractor to AverStar Inc. on the IV and V Omnibus Contract that includes the International Space Station.

The company has also been at the forefront of the Amber View 3D imaging project, designed to mass-broadcast a digital 3D image of a missing or abducted child to the law enforcement, media and private sectors via the Internet within minutes of an official alert.

Cunanan has been a recipient of many awards in the US. For her outstanding contributions to the community, the City of Clarksburg has proclaimed a Zeny Fernandez Cunanan Day in her honor.

Cunanan, married to Dr. Robert Cunanan, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. She hails from Lubao, Pampanga.