Dreams start early for NASA branch chief Barbara Conte
2015-04-27
The summer of 1969 sealed the destiny of Barbara Conte when her family toured NASA’s Kennedy Space Center during a family vacation. Conte, branch chief for the Rendezvous, Pointing and Software Branch at Johnson Space Center, believes her first trip to the Cape solidified her interest in the space program.
Spending many weekends and summers at her grandparents’ cabin in the countryside, Conte was fascinated by the starry sky, and would often take her telescope outside at night to study the planets.
“I would dream of being part of that,” Conte said.
While a freshman in high school, the first class of astronauts with women began preparing to go into space.
“This was very exciting to me, and kept me focused on that goal of getting into NASA,” Conte said. She focused her degree on what she needed to do to get into NASA for good.
Conte obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rice University and worked as a paralegal to make ends meet during school. She tried every avenue to get into the space program, and was finally hired in 1987. She’s been where she belonged—with NASA—ever since.
“I was hired into this division, and have not moved,” Conte said. “I have spent 28 years in the Flight Dynamics Division and enjoy the work tremendously.”
When Conte first came aboard, it was the post-Challenger era, and all projects were focused on getting the shuttle back into flight.
“The return to flight from Challenger was a really interesting time for a young engineer,” Conte said. “It was an initiation for developing a strong work ethic.”
Conte started working in the Ascent Analysis Section, which is part of the technical home base for shuttle flight design where the trajectory designs for upcoming shuttle missions were developed.
“The flight controller piece I really enjoyed,” Conte said. She worked during the pre-launch shift as part of the team that determined the shuttle’s first-stage steering commands. “The idea of being part of a team that put those commands on the shuttle was a tremendous responsibility. To watch the shuttle launch and know our team had been a part of that was very satisfying.”
She worked as an analyst in flight design engineering for about 10 years. As a woman coming into a competitive environment, she never felt there was any discrimination or bias directed at her gender.
“Starting at NASA in that time frame, NASA was hiring a lot of female engineers,” Conte said.
Working in such a high-stakes environment required Conte to adapt to the attitude of the team.
“Be tough and competent,” Conte said. “That is the first thing you learn in mission operations.”
However, Conte was struck by the kind of toughness required from the job, and how it was different than what is traditionally taught in a classroom environment. “Being Mission Ops tough and competent isn’t something taught in school.”
Coming into a male-dominated field more than 25 years ago, there was a very different dynamic amongst the team. Flora Lowes (now Flora Calaway) was the only woman section head who had worked on the Apollo Program, and was a role model to Conte.
“Role models don’t have to be deliberate as a role model—you just have to do your job confidently and well,” Conte said.
Conte became the Branch Chief for the Flight Design Requirements and Integration Branch in 2005, which managed the contracts for the division. She was the first female to be in that role.
Now as the branch chief for the Rendezvous, Pointing and Software Branch, Conte admits that paying it forward has its own special rewards.
“The most satisfying part of my career is having an opportunity to work with and develop a team of young, talented engineers,” Conte said.
Anna Seils
NASA Johnson Space Center
Spending many weekends and summers at her grandparents’ cabin in the countryside, Conte was fascinated by the starry sky, and would often take her telescope outside at night to study the planets.
“I would dream of being part of that,” Conte said.
While a freshman in high school, the first class of astronauts with women began preparing to go into space.
“This was very exciting to me, and kept me focused on that goal of getting into NASA,” Conte said. She focused her degree on what she needed to do to get into NASA for good.
Conte obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rice University and worked as a paralegal to make ends meet during school. She tried every avenue to get into the space program, and was finally hired in 1987. She’s been where she belonged—with NASA—ever since.
“I was hired into this division, and have not moved,” Conte said. “I have spent 28 years in the Flight Dynamics Division and enjoy the work tremendously.”
When Conte first came aboard, it was the post-Challenger era, and all projects were focused on getting the shuttle back into flight.
“The return to flight from Challenger was a really interesting time for a young engineer,” Conte said. “It was an initiation for developing a strong work ethic.”
Conte started working in the Ascent Analysis Section, which is part of the technical home base for shuttle flight design where the trajectory designs for upcoming shuttle missions were developed.
“The flight controller piece I really enjoyed,” Conte said. She worked during the pre-launch shift as part of the team that determined the shuttle’s first-stage steering commands. “The idea of being part of a team that put those commands on the shuttle was a tremendous responsibility. To watch the shuttle launch and know our team had been a part of that was very satisfying.”
She worked as an analyst in flight design engineering for about 10 years. As a woman coming into a competitive environment, she never felt there was any discrimination or bias directed at her gender.
“Starting at NASA in that time frame, NASA was hiring a lot of female engineers,” Conte said.
Working in such a high-stakes environment required Conte to adapt to the attitude of the team.
“Be tough and competent,” Conte said. “That is the first thing you learn in mission operations.”
However, Conte was struck by the kind of toughness required from the job, and how it was different than what is traditionally taught in a classroom environment. “Being Mission Ops tough and competent isn’t something taught in school.”
Coming into a male-dominated field more than 25 years ago, there was a very different dynamic amongst the team. Flora Lowes (now Flora Calaway) was the only woman section head who had worked on the Apollo Program, and was a role model to Conte.
“Role models don’t have to be deliberate as a role model—you just have to do your job confidently and well,” Conte said.
Conte became the Branch Chief for the Flight Design Requirements and Integration Branch in 2005, which managed the contracts for the division. She was the first female to be in that role.
Now as the branch chief for the Rendezvous, Pointing and Software Branch, Conte admits that paying it forward has its own special rewards.
“The most satisfying part of my career is having an opportunity to work with and develop a team of young, talented engineers,” Conte said.
Anna Seils
NASA Johnson Space Center