The People of Johnson: Meet Steven Deterling, Software Engineering Department Manager, Mission Systems Operations Contract

Steven Deterling remembers watching Skylab’s launch and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking on TV at a very young age. Those events ignited a life-long interest in human spaceflight and inspired a dream to one day work for NASA. Deterling excelled in math and science and dabbled in model rocketry, all of which helped push him to study aerospace engineering in college.

“That really brought everything together for me and put me on the path to my career in space exploration,” he said.

Deterling has since turned his passion into a nearly 32-year career as a contractor at Johnson, filling a variety of engineering and operations management positions across diverse teams. Some of his career highlights include trips to Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as the International Space Station was being built and teams across NASA and its international partners were learning to plan, communicate, and execute station operations in real time. At the time, Deterling was helping to connect the Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston and the Moscow Mission Control Center, also known as TsUP. Another memorable project was a major upgrade to the MCC’s software systems in the mid- to late-1990s that resulted in faster operations and greater flexibility for flight controllers.

“It was intense and very difficult work, but very rewarding,” he said. “It gave me a lot of opportunity to offer creative solutions for user challenges. It also provided the opportunity to step up as a leader and propelled me to future assignments and successes.”

In his current role, which he assumed roughly two years ago, Deterling leads approximately 200 software developers who are creating and modifying software for the MCC, the Mission Training Center, and the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. His wealth of experience and dedication to sharing NASA’s work with others are admired by his team. “Steve is incredibly knowledgeable about spaceflight and passionate about sharing his enthusiasm with others,” said one colleague. “He takes time from his busy schedule to advise and help his colleagues. Additionally, he often guides friends and other visitors around Johnson, inspiring them to become engaged in human spaceflight.”

Deterling says that his innate curiosity is one asset he brings to the table, because it prompts him to ask a lot of questions about the software and systems he works with, as well as his colleagues. “Seeing where the answers take me has allowed me to explore areas that I would never have considered if I hadn’t asked the questions,” he said. Just as important as the acquisition of new knowledge is finding a good way to organize it so that you can quickly pull information together when needed, Deterling adds. He also believes that volunteering to take on new tasks or projects, especially when others are reluctant to accept the assignment because it appears challenging, has been an important driver of his success. Deterling said he has learned to trust himself and his abilities more, but he also takes every opportunity to seek inputs from others. “Everybody has something to offer,” he said. “It’s not always obvious what it is, so it may take some time to understand and realize how to use everyone’s talents.”

Deterling counsels anyone aspiring to a NASA career to be persistent and open to considering different options. “We need people who are good in lots of different disciplines to successfully perform all the things that we want to do,” he said. “As long as you are willing to work hard and learn, there are more opportunities here than you can imagine.” He also urges members of the Artemis Generation to review and make use of the tremendous amount of knowledge and data collected during past missions and programs, and to share their experiences with as many people as possible. 

Deterling looks forward to humanity’s return to the Moon and hopes space travel can become accessible to more people, either physically or through expanded virtual experiences. “The more people that understand the magic and wonder of our planet and our existence, the more likely they will be to appreciate how fragile and precious life is,” he said.