Inspiring short videos showcasing NASA’s engineers from various fields sharing the personal experiences and inspirations that led them to pursue a career in engineering. Each video features a different engineer, providing a unique and intimate glimpse into their journey from childhood dreams to professional achievements.

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Week 4

 

Carmel Conaty

Chief Engineer
NASA Engineering and Safety Center 
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 

 

As a student, Carmel Conaty had an interest in the arts. But engineering called her.

Now, Conaty is the chief engineer for the NASA Engineering and Safety Center at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where she helps solve some of NASA’s toughest challenges.

 

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Danielle McCulloch

Program Executive
Flight Opportunities Program
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center 

 

Danielle McCulloch blends her engineering background with relationship-building skills to take NASA to new heights.

McCulloch is the program executive for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. In her role, she connects researchers developing space technologies and science instruments with commercial flight providers to test critical NASA technologies.

 

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Matthew Underwood

Deputy Lead Systems Engineer
Electrified Flight Demonstration Project 
NASA Langley Research Center

 

Matthew Underwood always wanted to be an engineer. It runs in the family.

Today, Underwood is the deputy lead systems engineer for the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration Project at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia. He’s responsible for assembly, integration, and systems engineering for space and aeronautics projects.

 

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Derrick Cheston

Chief
Systems Engineering and Architecture Division 
NASA Glenn Research Center

 

Derrick Cheston grew up in a family of tinkerers.

Today, Cheston is the systems engineering and architecture division chief at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. He leads over 200 employees in day-to-day operations of engineering software, mission design architecture, and advanced computing.

 

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Yung Nguyen

Construction/Facilities Program Manager 
NASA Ames Research Center

 

Growing up in Vietnam, Yung Nguyen knew she wanted to be an engineer. After moving to the U.S. at age 14 with her family, she worked hard to make the dream reality.

Today, Nguyen is the construction/facilities program manager at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. In her role, she manages construction and maintenance of facilities that help NASA go higher and farther.

 

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Bianca Rhym

Research & Technology Studies Manager
Gateway Deep Space Logistics 
NASA Kennedy Space Center

 

Bianca Rhym didn’t always know she wanted to be an engineer. In fact, her first career was in sales. A documentary about physicist and entrepreneur Robert Noyce opened her eyes to new possibilities, setting her on an unexpected journey.

Today, Rhym’s job title is Research and Technology Studies Manager for Gateway Deep Space Logistics. In her role, based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, she looks at ways to bridge technology and capability gaps for future deep space exploration.