Who I Am
I'm privileged and proud to announce that I am currently working as a flight director for the Mission Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center. Flight Director has been one of my goals and dreams, and with hard work and determination, has finally been achieved. I was selected as a flight director on October 27, 2000, and I am a proud member of the Flight Director Class of 2000.

As flight director, I manage the flight controllers who work in the Mission Control Center and have the overall responsibility for the successful management and execution of space flights. I also lead and orchestrate planning and integration activities with flight controllers, payload customers, and International Space Station partners. (If you've seen the movie "Apollo 13", flight director is the position Gene Kranz worked).

The first flight director, Chris Kraft, was selected during the Mercury era. Since that time, only 48 men and women have served as flight directors throughout the history of U.S. human space flight. The Flight Director Class of 2000 brings the total to 58. What an honor it is to be part of such an elite and prestigious group.

Guidance and Propulsion Systems
Prior to my selection as flight director, I held the position of Chief of the Guidance and Propulsion Systems Branch. I was selected as branch chief July 2, 1999 and started at my "new challenge" immediately after Free Flight 2 (FF2) of X-38/V-132 (I was working on the X-38 project prior to my selection/see below). As branch chief, I supervised the operations of the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Group, Propulsion Systems (Prop) Group, and Motion Control Systems (MCS) Group.

The GNC Group are flight controllers responsible for monitoring and operating all the shuttle hardware and software associated with flight control capabilities. The Prop Group are flight controllers responsible for monitoring and operating all shuttle hardware, software, and propulsion consumables management that are related to the orbiter maneuvering and reactions control systems. The MCS Group are flight controllers responsible for monitoring and operating the International Space Station (ISS) flight control and propulsion systems. The group leads of each of these groups do the majority of planning and training for their personnel . My job as supervisor was to provide oversight, short/long range planning, and help with major issues as required (I worked with some great folks).

CRV and X-38 Project
Prior to my selection as Chief of the Guidance and Propulsion Systems Branch, I worked for the X-38 Project as a Flight Test Engineer (FTE). The X-38 is the engineering prototype of the Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) that will be used as a "lifeboat" to safely return the crew back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). It would be used if an emergency (sick crew member, hole in station, etc.) should occur when the shuttle is not docked to the ISS.

As FTE, I was responsible for getting the X-38 test vehicles (V-131 and V-132) at Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) ready for test flights. The test flights that occur at DFRC consist of dropping V-131 and V-132 from a B-52 bomber at various altitudes (23,000 feet and above) to test out the flight control systems and the parafoil system. The X-38 is unique in that it uses a parafoil to land the vehicle. The FTE's responsibilities include the following: developing/maintaining both flight and turnaround procedures and flight rules; performing integration between JSC and DFRC engineers and the flight test community to ensure the vehicle has passed all the required checkouts and is ready for flight test; ensuring that all flight objectives have been identified; and (the best of all) performing "hands on" work on the vehicle (checkouts, installation, etc.).

Additional responsibilities included working and flying on the B-52 as FTE1 and Launch Panel Operator (LPO). FTE1 configures the vehicle while the B-52 is on the ground, the LPO configures the vehicle for the "drop" while the B-52 is in the air. We also get to fly on the helicopter chase as "Helo Chase" reporting the parafoil flight/glide performance, and training the X-38 flight controllers. It's a full time job, but very rewarding -- especially, meeting the various folks who work on the project.

Shuttle Flight Controller
Prior to my assignment to the X-38 project, I was group lead for the Electrical Systems Group of the Electrical Systems Branch at the Johnson Space Center. Our official title was shuttle flight controllers. The Electrical Systems group is in charge of monitoring the following: the shuttle fuel cells, which generate electricity, drinking water, and cooling water; the shuttle PRSD (Power Reactant Supply and Distribution) system, which provides oxygen and hydrogen to run the fuel cells and oxygen for the crew to breathe; and the EPDC (Electrical Power Distribution and Control) system, which is the shuttle's "house wiring."

Prior to becoming the Electrical Systems group lead, I was the group lead for the shuttle Propulsion Systems group for the Guidance and Propulsion Systems Branch. Again, as flight controllers, the propulsion systems group is in charge of monitoring the OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) and RCS (Reaction Control System) on the shuttle. The OMS are the big engines (not the main engines) that bring us home from space. The RCS jets are used to control the shuttle while it orbits the Earth.

My Career Journey
Well, first things first. I graduated from Saginaw Valley State College (now Saginaw Valley State University) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Since I was interested in working for the car industry, I thought a mechanical engineering degree would be the right path to follow (and also because I enjoyed math and science). Since I didn't get any professional sports offers coming out of college (we all have that dream), I decided that I had to get a "real" job. My first job was with Ford Motor Company, and I worked at the test track in Detroit, Michigan. While visiting a friend in Houston, I decided to see what jobs Ford Aerospace had to offer. Well, I was lucky and I was in the right place at the right time.

My "first" job at JSC was with the Propulsion Systems group. I didn't know what to expect since I wanted to work with cars and never imagined that I would be working on spaceships. After 12 years in the propulsion group, I decided it was time to learn something new and transferred to the electrical systems group.

After three years, I was promoted to the group lead of the propulsion systems group (I came back home). After working two years as the propulsion systems group lead, I was asked by my management if I would like to become the electrical systems group lead. It was a tough decision, but I accepted, looking forward to a new challenge.

After two years as the electrical systems group lead, I was asked if I would be interested in working on the X-38 project. I had already been assigned by the Systems Division (division I work in) to be lead for the CRV and felt that the X-38 project would provide me with the knowledge to operationally support the CRV and also provide the opportunity to work on the "engineering" side of new technology. Again, I looked forward to the challenge. After 10 months working X-38, the opportunity to apply for the Guidance and Propulsion Branch Chief position (another new challenge) came about. I was selected and held that position for 15 months prior to being selected as Flight Director (10/27/00).

Educational Influences
The influencing educational experience that continues to motivate me is that every day when I go to work, I learn something new. I remember when I was younger; I would do just enough to get by (boy, was I kidding myself). I'm sure everyone is familiar with the saying, "If I knew then what I know now, . . ." Unfortunately, it took me "now" to figure out that the more you learn "then" only benefits you later. I guess what I'm trying to say is, "Don't sell yourself short." Take full advantage of the opportunities to learn. Everyone knows the saying; "Knowledge is power." With it you can achieve all your goals and dreams.

Personal Information
I enjoy all types of sports (softball, football, weight lifting, and karate -- currently brown belt in Tae Kwon Do). I also enjoy cooking.

Well, like any kid growing up, I wanted to play professional sports (either baseball or football) and be a policeman during the off-season. Also, with my spare time, I wanted to design cars.

I grew up in east Detroit, Michigan, and lived there for 22 years prior to moving to Houston, Texas (don't get to see the snow much anymore). In the area I lived, most of the people were blue-collar workers and worked very hard to provide for their families. My father was one of those blue-collar workers and he influenced me in the following ways: 1) always work hard and give 110% (be proud and enjoy what you're doing even if it's not what you want to be doing); 2) the family is the cornerstone of your life; 3) get an education (he wanted me to have more opportunities to do what I wanted and not have to work in the factory -- or multiple jobs -- like he did). My parents still live in Eastpointe, Michigan. I loved it there because it had all four seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter).

I currently live in Houston, Texas, close to Johnson Space Center. My wife's name is Jennifer, and she works as an ISS flight controller in the Life Support Systems Group (crew air, water, bathroom, etc.) We have two dogs. Their names are Nikko and Hansel. Nikko (she) is a half Chow and half Siberian Husky. Hansel (he) is a full breed German Shepherd. Both of them have a great personality and love little kids (to lick, not to eat).

Special Memories
There are a couple of memories that I will always remember quite clearly. The first is the night when Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon. My entire family was gathered around the TV, and I thought to myself, "Is this cool or what?" (Little did I know then that I would have the opportunity to work at NASA.) The second is when Henry Aaron hit his 715th home run (to pass Babe Ruth) and the third was when the Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1968.

I know this might sound corny but . . . I would like people to remember that I was a fair person and was there if anyone ever needed help.

My Future Plans and Goals
My immediate plans/goals are to continue to work at JSC/NASA and contribute as much as I can to ensure that the Shuttle program and the Station program continue to be a success, as well as improve and provide new technology and tools for upcoming generations.

I have a few other goals:

• to always walk in God's will and plan for my life;
• to be the best provider/friend to my family that I can;
• to become a NASA Flight Director (I've attained this goal!);
• to get my black belt in karate; and
• to get my teaching degree (I want to teach K through 6th grades).

Likes/Dislikes About Career
The best things I like about my job are:

• in my opinion, it's the neatest job in the world. Every day there is a new challenge and a new opportunity to learn;
• getting the opportunity to lead people and ensure that they are trained properly to do the "flight control" job;
• the people with whom I work (which includes the astronauts); and job satisfaction (who would have thought a kid from Detroit would be working as part of the NASA team?).

The thing I least like about my job (unfortunately there is one): the constant threat that the space program may be canceled (or funding reduced to the point where it's very tough to do the job). People/politicians don't fully understand the benefits that come from space travel. Hopefully, NASA can get an advertising campaign together so the general public can see what we really do.

Archived Chats

• May 31, 2000
• November 12, 1997