NASA Women’s History Month Profile – Judy Grizzard (Armstrong Flight Research Center) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Judy Grizzard, contract manager for Kay & Associates at NASA Armstrong, discusses her role in managing ground support equipment and inspiring employees to help NASA succeed.

Key Insights

• 📽️ NASA throws unique projects at its contractors, requiring innovative solutions.
• ❓ Trusting one's instincts and realizing their capabilities are crucial in problem-solving.
• 🛝 Managing ground support equipment for NASA involves a balance between providing the necessary equipment and ensuring it meets specific requirements.
• 🗯️ Projects like lifting the SOFIA mirror and mounting an F-18 for display require careful planning, the right personnel, and a focus on safety.
• 💦 Judy's role includes inspiring employees to understand the importance of their work in helping NASA succeed.

Transcript

[ Music ] >> This is Judy. My mentor, Charlie Baker, was the Crew Chief on the X-15 program and the Shuttle landing operations manager. He taught me how the fundamentals of NASA works in the business sense and how to think outside of a problem and be innovative in our solutions. NASA throws a lot of different projects at us. And each one is slightl... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Judy Grizzard's role at NASA Armstrong?

Judy Grizzard is the contract manager for Kay & Associates at NASA Armstrong. Her role involves maintaining ground support equipment for NASA's aircraft and inspiring employees to help NASA succeed.

Q: What projects has Judy Grizzard supported?

Judy has supported projects such as Space Shuttle landings, the LEAPTech program, and the Orion program. She has experience working with a variety of aircraft including SOFIA, Gulfstreams, F-18s, F-15s, Global Hawks, and ER-2.

Q: What challenges does Judy face in managing equipment for NASA?

Judy must balance the supply of equipment to ensure NASA has what they need. She also has to plan and coordinate complex projects, such as removing and remounting an F-18 for display, while prioritizing safety and avoiding damage.

Q: How does Judy inspire her employees?

Judy believes in the importance of her employees' work and strives to inspire them. She reminds them that they are here to help NASA succeed, and that their contributions are vital to achieving NASA's mission.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Judy Grizzard is the contract manager for Kay & Associates at NASA Armstrong, responsible for maintaining ground support equipment for NASA's aircraft at Edwards and Palmdale.

• She has supported various projects including Space Shuttle landings, the LEAPTech program, and the Orion program.

• Judy's role includes inspiring employees and ensuring they have the necessary equipment to support NASA's missions.