Jennifer "Jenni" Nield, devoted mother, cherished friend, and brilliant engineer, passed away unexpectedly this week. She was the heart of her family, a source of joy to her friends, and a deeply respected colleague whose light touched every community she joined.

Jenni was a proud graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and went on to serve her country with distinction at the Department of Defense, rising to the highest level of technical leadership. Her work took her across the world—to Japan, England, and beyond—experiences she embraced with her trademark curiosity and zest for learning. She was known not only for her brilliance, but for her boundless generosity, mentoring countless colleagues and personally leading the premier technical development program at Fort Meade. Her coworkers adored her for her expertise and for her laughter; many lovingly called her "Giggles," a nickname that captured her unique ability to find humor everywhere.

She met her husband, Greg, in Baltimore after a series of uncanny, fate-like encounters—an eight-person rowing crew, a greenhouse yoga class, and chance meetings at sushi restaurants. Eventually, they decided the universe was trying to tell them something, and they began a life together filled with love, adventure, and deep partnership.

They became parents while living abroad in Harrogate, England, where both of their sons were born. Jenni loved them fiercely and dedicated herself to filling their childhoods with unforgettable experiences. She planned family adventures from the rugged coasts of Scotland to the mountains of Montana to the warm beaches of Jamaica—always knowing how to turn travel into wonder, joy, and discovery.

At home in Fair Oaks, Jenni built another beloved community. She treasured her neighbors, joining them for weekly meals, laughter-filled games of Bunco, and supporting one another through the pandemic—during which she somehow became neighborhood president and still managed to remain loved by nearly everyone.

Jenni was more than a coworker; she was a true friend. She organized game nights of Pandemic and Gloomhaven, planned long walks through DC and Baltimore in search of the perfect beer, and encouraged everyone around her to learn, grow, and savor life fully.

Happy, cheerful, brilliant, spiritual, philosophical, and endlessly curious, Jenni approached the world with an unmistakable zest for life. She was always exploring, always laughing, always learning—and always lifting those around her.

Her memory will forever be a blessing, and the joy she brought into the world will continue to echo in the lives she touched.

She is survived by her husband, Greg; her sons, Zach and Logan; her mother, Becki; her father, Bill; her sister, Carrie; and her loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom she cherished deeply.