BROOMFIELD, Colo., March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Paula Kilrain, deputy general manager of tactical solutions for Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (NYSE: BLL), will receive the STEP Ahead Women in Manufacturing Award on April 21, 2016, in Washington, D.C..

The fourth annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Awards celebrate women in the manufacturing industry who make a difference through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion and leadership. The awards are part of a larger STEP Ahead initiative designed to attract, develop, advance and retain highly capable female talent.

Kilrain leads Ball's business unit responsible for the large-scale production of thousands of antennas, subsystems and instruments. She joined Ball in 2004 and was appointed deputy general manager of tactical solutions in 2009.

"Paula is a superb leader," said Rob Freedman, vice president, tactical solutions. "She connects easily with people, drives for results and closure, and uses data effectively to help set priorities and realistic objectives."

Kilrain holds an MBA from the University of Denver and a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.  Prior assignments at Ball include director of production, managing the IR&D portfolio and establishing the program management office. She attended Naval Aviator training in Pensacola, Florida, earning her wings in 1987. She also served as a combat support pilot flying CH-46 Sea Knight on several at sea deployments. As the first female HH-1N pilot flying Technical Mountain Rescue, she is credited with multiple rescues and life-saving missions. She finished her 20-year military career flying C-130's and serving as the Colorado Air National Guard's Inspector General.

In addition to Kilrain, the STEP event will recognize 30 Emerging Leaders and 99 other Honorees, their nominating organizations, company leadership and peers within the industry.

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 15,000 people worldwide and reported 2015 sales of $8.0 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost  reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation, power and supply chain influence; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures, including, with respect to the proposed Rexam PLC acquisition, the effect of the announcement of the acquisition on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; the occurrence of any event or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of our definitive agreement with Rexam PLC in respect of the acquisition; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us related to the definitive agreement with Rexam PLC; and the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the acquisition of Rexam PLC, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.