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>> My path to NASA was a bit unexpected for me.
I liked science in high school
and I wasn't really sure what I wanted to be
when I grew up, though.
And the Air Force had offered me a scholarship
to study chemical engineering.
And I took that opportunity.
Money for college is very hard to pass up.
And chemical engineering sounded science based,
so I thought I'd give it a shot.
So, I studied chemical engineering
at the University of Pittsburgh.
And commissioned as an officer when I graduated college.
And I spent four years at Edwards Air Force Base,
doing developmental tests.
And about that time, my commissioning was about to end,
my four-year commitment.
I heard of an opportunity at NASA Armstrong
at Edwards Air Force Base opening up.
And I wasn't quite sure if I should apply.
I wasn't really sure if I --
my experience was enough to bridge over to NASA.
But I realized that that was my dream job was
to always work for NASA.
And why not give it a shot.
So, I applied over there.
And it was my experience with the Air Force
that translated very well over to NASA Armstrong.
My name is Kate McMurtry, I work at NASA and this is my story.
Currently, I'm the branch chief
of the operations engineering branch here at Armstrong.
And I work to help develop and manage the group of engineers.
The main rule of an operations engineer is
to integrate the research and science from the research
and science community on to an aircraft.
And either flight test or do science flights to collect
that information and bring
that information back the research community,
to continue on to do more work.
And that requires, not only an understanding of engineering,
but also a lot of leadership, communication and teamwork.
As we are one of the leads on a project, by nature of the rule
and we interface with not only researchers and the mechanics
and the techs who do the work,
but also the pilots who flight test.
When I was an operations engineer working on the F-18's,
one of the more thrilling experience is being a
mission controller.
A mission controller is the person
in the control room who's directing the flight
and is the primary communicator between the rest
of the researchers and engineers in the control room
and the pilot flying the aircraft in the test range.
And it can be an exciting experience to get the data.
And it can also be a little bit nerve wracking
because if there's any issue,
you're the one that's directing the flight.
You're the one that's assisting the pilot in an emergency.
And but it was always great to come back
and have a great flight and have collected the data
that you set forth to get.
Just always an exciting experience to be kind of real
in the moment, hands on experience
as a mission controller.
And just kind of being the person that's coordinating the
whole flight.
Teamwork is a huge aspect, here at NASA Armstrong.
We have to rely on everyone bringing their knowledge base
and their niche to the table, through problem solving
and developing flight test regimes.
So, it's really great to know that you don't have
to have all the answers, but you have a lot of people
that are part of the team that have the answers.
They can just kind of bring the right solution
and develop the right solution
to move forward and be successful.
So, it's a just a dynamic team environment here,
which has just made it really fun.
And a really good ground for learning new things
that you've never learned before,
just by being integrated with other people.
One of my favorite accomplishments is getting my
private pilot license.
Mainly because I had to overcome motion sickness
and face some fears and work
on my confidence throughout the process.
It's a lot of training.
And there's moments where you wonder if you're ever just going
to get it and if things are going to click.
And you have to just stay with it.
And there's scary moments, like when you solo
for your first time and you feel like you're not ready.
But to get through those fears and build on your confidence,
it was just a good accomplishment for me
that I look back on and I'm very happy about.
Getting my private pilot license has really helped me understand
the flight environment and terminology.
And it's just really helped me in my career at NASA.
My biggest life lesson to date is not to be your first obstacle
in the way of your goals.
I almost did not apply for NASA.
And mainly because I come from a very small town.
I consider myself a very average person.
And I thought NASA was only for the super smart people,
astronauts, PHD's, people who invent things.
And I just didn't think I had a place at NASA,
even though I really wanted to be there.
Now that I work for NASA, I realize that there's a lot
of different areas of work and level
of expertise desired at NASA.
And there's really a place for a lot of people here.
So, it's just been a really great life lesson.
And I try to not be the first thing in my own way.
The thing that I'm most proud of to date is being
in active duty military and serving my country in that way.
I think that everyone can serve their country
in many different forms and fashions.
But I'm proud to have served as an active duty member.
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