Career

Debbie Awtonomow

Orbiter Project Engineer - Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS)
Shuttle Project Engineer

Hometown: Cocoa Beach, FL

Colleges/Degrees

Florida Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Why did you decide to study math/science/engineering?

In the 70s, computers were just starting to become big (or actually smaller)

What inspired you to work for NASA and how did you get hired?

My father worked for NASA for 33 years, and I wanted to launch “missiles” like him. After serving a tour in the Army, I applied with Rockwell International at KSC to work on “shuttles”.

Discuss previous positions held and how they led up to your current position.

I started out as a Digital Processing Engineer with Rockwell, then Lockheed. I then moved on to a company called SPAR, working on the Remote Manipulator System (Canadian arm). After working 9 years for a contractor, I applied for and accepted a Systems Assurance position in NASA SR&QA (Safety, Reliability & Quality Assurance). From there I went to the Shuttle Program office working on Launch Commit Criteria. Wanting to get back into Shuttle processing, I applied for the Orbiter Project Engineer Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) Lead position, which is where I am today.

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a career with NASA?

Be well rounded, as you never know what you will be working on. From public speaking, to writing procedures and requirements, to systems design, to troubleshooting problems. Anything’s possible.