A Legacy of Excellence

Reja Beasley Klug was born a Mississippi State Bulldog.  

Reja, her father, her sister, her husband, and her son are all proud members of the Mississippi State University family. Following in her father’s footsteps, Reja majored in electrical engineering and graduated from the Bagley College of Engineering in 1984, a time when very few women were pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She was an engineer at heart, always devoting her passions and talents to a greater good. This scholarship is founded on her lifelong desire to encourage others to do the same. 

After graduation, Reja began her career at Mississippi Power and Light as a district engineer. She was subsequently recruited by the United States Air Force (USAF) to bring her power expertise to the Strategic Defense Initiative, developing electromagnetic launcher technologies at Eglin Air Force Base where she earned two patents for her work:  

1. 5154637 High current cable termination for pulsed power applications 

2. 5304739 High energy coaxial cable for use in pulsed high energy systems 

She took an intentional career break when her children, Kerianne and Ryan, were born. Later, she returned to work with the 96th Test Wing at Eglin where she worked several highly classified projects, earning awards and recognition for her contributions to the USAF. Reja finished her career as a principal engineer at IS4S, where her husband, Russ, currently serves as vice president and site lead for the company’s Fort Walton Beach offices. 

In addition to her award-winning career, Reja and Russ enjoyed family time at “the world’s most beautiful beach” in their hometown along the Emerald Coast, trips to Disney World with the kids, and visiting lighthouses all across the country. Her faith was central to her life and she and Russ spent many joyous years teaching youth Sunday school, coordinating mission’s projects, and leading Bible studies in their local church. 

Reja passed away on October 1, 2024, after a short, fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. To honor her legacy of excellence and continue her impact in the STEM fields, IS4S and MSU have proudly partnered to establish the Reja Klug Memorial Scholarship.