JOHN HARRIS

Where do you live? I live in Friendswood, Texas.

Where did you go to school? I graduated in 1972 from R.M. Callaway High School and later went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Faulkner University in 1996.

What did you study? When I first went to college I studied Music and Music Education (every body wants to be a rock star). Later, I found that to advance in my chosen career I needed higher education and studied the intricacies of managing a business.

What courses prepared you for your job? Mostly the Math and Science courses but English was also critical as I write procedures and occasionally give presentations to groups of my coworkers.

What do you do for work? I am a Project Specialist for ILC Dover, LP a contractor for the Crew and Thermal Systems Division of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. I oversee the maintenance and up keep of all of the ground support equipment used to prepare the spacesuits used to train the astronauts. I also support training activities in an engineering role where the spacesuits are used for testing, training and development of new equipment and ideas. Additionally I get to do fun stuff like support the Desert RATS project in a role as technician due to my 20 + years of experience working with the spacesuits.

What do you do for fun? I build and fly model rockets and work in the yard and around the house. I particularly like to construct water gardens, but seeing any thing that I built with my own hands is very rewarding.

Why do you work at NASA? I truly believe that we need to explore the galaxy around us. We are only a speck on the face of the universe and in order for us to advance as a civilization we MUST understand how to integrate ourselves into the bigger picture. I also get to do some really fun stuff like SCUBA dive at NASA’s now outdated Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, fly on-board the KC-135 microgravity aircraft and support projects like Desert RATS.

How did you get your job here? I started at NASA in the early 80’s with a different contractor that needed a junk room turned into an actual tool and controlled supply warehouse. I had several years of experience in the warehousing business and created an inventory control and tool check out system.

What is your role in Desert RATS? My primary concern as a technician is for the safety of the suited subject while he is inside the suit. I will help him into the suit and monitor communications and facial expressions to determine his well being. I will also help with camp set-up and getting all of the equipment ready to support the day’s test scenario.

What do you like about your job? It is really hard to say what I like about my job. It seems that every day is a new challenge with different solutions. I can say that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Any advice for the students? READ!! Don’t count on the computer and the TV and the Video games to provide you with a picture. Read and learn to use your own imagination to fill in the gaps. Your ingenuity will provide the answer to tomorrow’s questions.