Q&A with Gateway: Meet Kendyl Uptain, Budget Analyst for the Gateway Program at Marshall Space Flight Center
Gateway's success relies on effective management of budget and resources. As budget analyst, Uptain is responsible for all financial execution and integration activities, as well as the day-to-day planning, forecasting, and reporting of Gateway’s portfolio at NASA’s Marshall Flight Center.
Keep reading to learn more about Kendyl, 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?
I work in the Habitation Systems Development Office at Marshall, which works very closely with the Gateway program at Johnson [in] Planning and Control. We help develop and integrate yearly Planning Programming Budgeting and Execution submits, create phasing plans, forecast labor and procurement by month, execute funds, report actuals and variances, and integrate the overall Gateway portfolio at Marshall.
What are you most excited to share about Gateway and what it will do for human exploration as part of Artemis?
I am so excited to witness humans return to the Moon and, eventually, Mars during my lifetime! To know that I have had a small part in that effort makes it even more special.
How has your personal background influenced your work in the Gateway program?
Gateway is very diverse, fast-paced, and ever changing in the land of resource management. My ability to be flexible, prioritize, and multitask has proven to be extremely beneficial in this role.
What has been your favorite memory while working at NASA?
Shortly after I joined the Gateway team at Marshall, NASA was preparing to launch the Perseverance Mars rover. I had the opportunity to watch the launch virtually with my new teammates via Microsoft Teams, and it was a super-cool experience as a newbie to the group!
Being surrounded by such a high-performing group of people, what’s a great piece of advice you’ve learned?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! I work with such brilliant people, and sometimes it can be a bit intimidating. But, at the end of the day, we are all one big team, and everyone is here for one reason — to fulfill the mission at hand. I learn something new every day, and I am so grateful for the guidance and leadership I have received.
In line with Gateway’s vision of “A Vibrant and Lasting Human Presence in Deep Space,” how do you see yourself fitting into the vision?
The concept of human space exploration has always been mind-blowing to me. It is one of those things that is hard for me to wrap my head around. Since joining the Gateway program, I am now fully immersed in the world of human space exploration every single day. It is so cool to be surrounded by the incredible minds that are going to get us back to the Moon and, eventually, to Mars.
More about Kendyl:
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia (about 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta).
If you could temporarily live (or visit) in another part of the world, where would that be?
My dream is to visit the Maldives. When my husband and I can get away on an adult-only trip, we enjoy visiting tropical locations where we can relax. The Maldives is on our bucket list!
How long have you been at Marshall Space Flight Center?
I have been at Marshall since 2015.
Describe yourself in five words:
Passionate, multitasker, proactive, flexible, and determined.
Favorite thing(s) to do to unwind:
Watching our children play in their various extracurricular activities (baseball, soccer, football), enjoying a glass of wine on my back patio, listening to music (live music or on the radio), cleaning and organizing (I know, I know, but clutter makes me crazy!).
How has the pandemic shaped your work style?
The pandemic has allowed me to be a better employee and mom. I am a mom to four children, so working from home has been a tremendous blessing for our family. Prior to the pandemic, I would make four lunches, drive four kids to four different schools, and make the 30-minute drive to Marshall — all by 8:30 a.m. I was lucky to be wearing two matching shoes when I arrived at my office! Now, I can work as early or as late as I need to, and I can also be more present for my family. Teleworking also forces you to focus on relationships that would normally be easier to cultivate in a face-to-face environment. I am proud to say that I have very close relationships with co-workers that I have yet to meet face to face.
Name one thing we would be surprised to learn about you.
I am a hard rock concert junkie! Before the pandemic, I tried to attend as many hard rock concerts as possible. I have been to over 100 concerts of varying genres in my 39 years. I hope more bands continue to release new touring dates as time goes on.
To learn more about the Gateway program, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/gateway
