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In honor of Women\u2019s History Month, we recently sat down with Denise Ryan, flight management specialist and member of the Women\u2019s Networking Group (WNG) at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, to learn more about her role and working at NASA.<\/p>\n
I am a Flight Management Specialist and work in the Flight Operations Office where we schedule various ground and flight operations for Armstrong Flight Research Center. I manage the scheduling activities for our diverse fleet of aircraft ranging from a simplistic TG-14 motor-glider to a complex airborne science platform such as the DC-8.<\/p>\n
I chose to work here at Armstrong because I needed a change \u2013 prior to getting a job here I was a Trust Operation Manager for a trust company and teleworking fulltime after moving to the area. Since I prefer in-person interaction, when I was offered a job as an Acquisition Specialist, I took it. From there another opportunity opened in the Flight Operations Directorate, where I was hired as a Flight Operations Scheduler. I\u2019ve worked here at Armstrong for 13 years; 11 years as a contractor and 2 years as a Civil Servant.<\/p>\n
The highlight of my career is the NASA Honor Award for Exceptional Public Service that I received in 2020 for \u201cExceptional service as Flight Operations Scheduler\u201d.<\/p>\n
Go for it! I\u2019ve enjoyed my time working at NASA and would always encourage people to apply for opportunities here when they\u2019re available.<\/p>\n
In Flight Ops, the most exciting thing about my job, besides the people I get to interact with every day, is that we are part of all the flight missions that take place at Armstrong. From ground test to first flights and even last, we are involved in many different aspects. I have a unique job that allows us to not necessarily be tied to one mission or one project, but almost all of them, and that\u2019s exciting.<\/p>\n
I honestly didn\u2019t have a solid plan \u2013 I remember telling people that my goal was to be happy and would find out what would bring me that happiness as I went through life. That eventually got me to NASA and I would say I\u2019m pretty happy, so that\u2019s a win.<\/p>\n
We have a tradition that if it\u2019s your birthday, after we sing, we smear frosting on your face. The other traditional that isn\u2019t strange, but I think is valuable is that we sit together for dinner as a family.<\/p>\n
I think mastering a musical instrument would be my choice \u2013 specifically the Cello. I can play basic chords on a Ukulele and Guitar, but I\u2019m far from being a master, more like a beginner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n