Q&A with Gateway: Meet Suzanne Davidson, Avionics Integrator for the Vehicle Systems Integration Program Office
Built with commercial and international partners, the Gateway will have various components, including the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), Logistics Module, International Habitation (I-HAB) module, an airlock, external robotics, and science capabilities. Each of these elements will need to be tested and verified before they are integrated in deep space. As avionics integrator for the Vehicle Systems Integration (VSI) Program Office, Suzanne Davidson is responsible for integration efforts and resolving avionics-related problems between modules, partners, and systems.
Keep reading to learn more about Suzanne, and don’t forget to follow the Gateway on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, milestones, and activities!
What does your office do for the Gateway program?
The VSI office provides guidance, expectations, and planning for Gateway system managers and their teams by leading strategies amongst team members with external offices and programs, as well as facilitating and leading major projects.
What are you most excited to share about Gateway and what it will do for human exploration as part of the Artemis program?
When I talk about Gateway, especially to young kids, I want to inspire a desire and confidence to imagine and dare to try to do things that they’ve never tried before — to believe that they can be engineers working on the Gateway. I had a Boeing technical fellow once ask me: How did a girl from the tiny town of Lolita, Texas, become a Boeing associate technical fellow for ethernet networking? Many of us don’t see our jobs as anything extraordinary, but to many young kids, it’s an inspiration to see what’s possible. Gateway is a unique program that allows us to test out new technologies and do things that have never been done before.
How has your personal background influenced your work in the Gateway program?
I have only been a civil servant for little over two years, with one of those years on Gateway. I thought all my jobs were challenging and difficult, but my job at Gateway has been, by far, the most challenging and stretching role I have encountered. Folks gave me good advice when I started this job — to not focus on all the stuff I didn’t know — but use my knowledge and experience to solve what I can and go from there. Unlike the International Space Station (ISS), Gateway uses a Time Triggered Ethernet network, and its backbone for command control raises unique challenges of combining critical and non-critical devices, for which my ISS ethernet experience comes in handy.
What has been your favorite memory while working at NASA?
It’s tough to choose one memory among all the years of working with and leading the ISS Joint Station LAN (JSL) team for both Boeing and NASA. Those years not only built a reliable ethernet network for ISS, but it also built lasting, cohesive partnerships with our international partners (ESA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Canadian Space Agency), across NASA facilities and engineering teams. Continuous growth of the ISS ethernet network provided unique opportunities such as designing and testing the original Wi-Fi network integration between shuttle and ISS. We tested the Wireless Access Point on the actual shuttle Endeavour while the shuttle was on the launch pad at Kennedy. It was cool walking across that bridge to the shuttle and testing wireless devices within the shuttle, (and) then, seeing the successful implementation work for additional launches.
Another cool memory was developing and testing the actual ethernet cables on the Flight Columbus Module and Japanese Experiment Module for the original transition to the ISS 100BaseT ethernet network. I witnessed the successful onboard integration of the ISS network into these modules and continue to watch them develop over the years.
Being surrounded by such a high-performing group of people, what’s a great piece of advice you’ve learned?
Change the way you look at things, and what you’re looking at changes. Life is a game; play to have fun. Forget the should have’s and if only’s. If, in all things, you can say you did your best, that’s what counts. If you aren’t changing and learning, then you’re not living. Attitude is key; it’s a game-changer. The best leaders know the unique values that each team member cherishes.
In line with JSC’s DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE, how do you see yourself fitting into the vision?
It’s all about relationship building and having an open mind to other perspectives and new ideas. A tree cannot withstand a hurricane alone. However, a strong root system amongst trees allows a tree to withstand many storms. That’s how I see the relationships that we need to build on the Gateway and all programs with our partners. Everyone has a unique perspective, gift, or talent, all of which contribute to making us stronger. I hope to help build these partner relationships across the Gateway avionics/network. I also want to be instrumental in promoting team ideas when they arise to the program that will help us Dare to Explore and try new things that will, ultimately, help us advance the Gateway and space exploration.
More about Suzanne:
Where did you grow up?
Lolita, Texas. In this small country town, young kids do not realize what is possible. I went back to my small school for a career fair a couple of years ago and listened in amazement to the teenagers. Many thought they’d never get out of this small town, thinking there were not smart enough, and didn’t understand what was possible. When they hear our stories, where we came from and how we did it, it inspires them to have confidence. If we can do it, they can do it. Like the starfish story, even if one young kid gains confidence from our stories, it’s all worth it.
If you could temporarily live (or visit) in another part of the world, where would that be?
Any beautiful peaceful place in nature, where the air is crisp and cool, stars are in abundance, the water is crystal clear, and the sky is stark blue against a backdrop of tall, green trees.
How long have you been at JSC?
I’ve been at Johnson for almost 20 years.
Describe yourself in five words:
Determined, dedicated, tenacious, encourager, and positive.
Favorite thing(s) to do to unwind:
I enjoy camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, biking, walking, petting the dog, reading, and listening to music.
How has the pandemic shaped your work style?
Actually, the pandemic hasn’t really affected my lifestyle. I do work harder, but I think that’s just because I now work on Gateway, and we all seem to work around the clock. There are times when more face time with teams would potentially help to understand technical issues, especially whiteboarding sessions. However, overall, I did not let fear stop me from going camping, hiking, biking, seeing our family, and doing the things we love to do. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Name one thing we would be surprised to learn about you.
I really don’t like computers. Never have. That seems odd, doesn’t it, given I was an associate technical fellow in networking leading the ISS JSL team, and now work in the same field for the Gateway program.
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
