Q&A with Gateway: Meet Jose ‘Joe’ Caram, Gateway Program Lead for Systems Engineering and Integration Office
As they say, “teamwork makes the dream work.” The Gateway program’s success lies in seamlessly integrating with partners providing hardware, as well as other programs like Orion and the Human Landing Systems. Joe Caram, based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is the lead for the Systems Engineering and Integration Office. Together, with international partners, commercial companies, and folks across the agency, he leads his team to evaluate system performance and determine if the integrated Gateway spacecraft is able to carry out evolving mission needs.
Let’s get to know more about him, below!
What is your role in the Gateway program?
I am the lead for the Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Office in the Gateway program.
What are your primary responsibilities?
As an integral part of the Artemis program, my primary responsibility is leading my team in ensuring that the Gateway integrated spacecraft meets its performance and configuration requirements.
What are you excited to share about Gateway and what it will do for human exploration as part of the Artemis program?
I am excited to be part of a broad agency, commercial, and international team developing Gateway as the threshold to a sustained human presence in cislunar space and beyond.
How has your own personal background influenced your work on the Gateway program?
I was fortunate to lead the SE&I team through Gateway formulation. I am privileged to have been able to learn and pull from my prior work with the International Space Station and Advanced Exploration Systems programs when maturing the concept that is the Gateway of today.
Being surrounded by such a high-performing group of people, what’s a great piece of advice you’ve learned?
I continue to enjoy working with a broad and diverse team that shares a passion for what we do and seeks to do it with excellence. As a systems engineer, it is not only what you know, but knowing what you don’t know and leaning on those that do. It is a team effort. Be open to new ideas on how to do business. Set clear expectations for yourself and your team on meeting commitments and providing service to your colleagues and partners in helping them get what they need to accomplish their job.
In line with JSC’s DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE, how do you see yourself fitting into the vision?
As part of the Gateway program, my work is enabling us, united with our agency, commercial, and international partners, to explore deeper into space in a sustained way.
Now, more about you. Where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Houston, Texas. I went to St. Thomas High School and then received my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University.
How long have you been at JSC?
32 years.
Describe yourself in five words:
Tenacious, dedicated, informed, thoughtful, and humorous.
Favorite thing(s) to do to unwind.
Vacation with family and friends, binge-watch a TV series, hunt, and play golf.
How has the pandemic shaped your working style?
Dress shoes and socks … what are those? I do like the short commute but miss seeing my work friends and colleagues in person.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
I enjoy a good card game now and then.
At Johnson, we are laser-focused on the next: going forward to our lunar neighbor to build outposts in uncharted territory while revolutionizing the strategies and technologies that will eventually open up the universe. The Gateway is a critical component of the Artemis program and embodies Johnson's DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE vision: We dare to expand frontiers. We unite with our partners to complete bold missions. We explore space to benefit humanity.
DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE
