In honor of Women’s History Month, we just recently took a seat with Denise Ryan, flight management expert and member of the Women’s Networking Group (WNG) at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, to find out more about her function and operating at NASA.
What do you do at NASA and how do you assist support Armstrong’s objective?
I am a Flight Management Specialist and work in the Flight Operations Office where we arrange numerous ground and flight operations for Armstrong Flight Research. I handle the scheduling activities for our varied fleet of airplane varying from a simple TG-14 motor-glider to a complicated air-borne science platform such as the DC-8.
Why did you select to operate at NASA and for how long have you worked here?
I selected to work here at Armstrong since I required a modification– previous to getting a task here I was a Trust Operation Manager for a trust business and teleworking fulltime after transferring to the location. Considering that I choose in-person interaction, when I was used a task as an Acquisition Specialist, I took it. From there another chance opened in the Flight Operations Directorate, where I was employed as a Flight Operations Scheduler. I’ve worked here at Armstrong for 13 years; 11 years as a professional and 2 years as a Civil Servant.
What has been your proudest achievement or emphasize of your profession?
The emphasize of my profession is the NASA Honor Award for Exceptional Public Service that I got in 2020 for “Exceptional service as Flight Operations Scheduler”.
Do you have any suggestions for others like yourself who may be pondering a profession at NASA?
Go all out! I’ve enjoyed my time operating at NASA and would constantly motivate individuals to get chances here when they’re readily available.
What is the most amazing element of your task?
In Flight Ops, the most interesting feature of my task, besides individuals I get to connect with every day, is that we become part of all the flight objectives that occur at Armstrong. From ground test to very first flights and even last, we are associated with various elements. I have a special task that enables us to not always be connected to one objective or one job, however nearly all of them, which’s interesting.
What did you wish to be when you were maturing? Did you believe you would ever work for NASA?
I truthfully didn’t have a strong strategy– I keep in mind informing individuals that my objective was to be delighted and would learn what would bring me that joy as I went through life. That ultimately got me to NASA and I would state I’m quite pleased, so that’s a win.
What’s the strangest custom in your household? Or a special household custom?
We have a custom that if it’s your birthday, after we sing, we smear frosting on your face. The other standard that isn’t odd,
