Ginger Kerrick named to 2016 Texas Women’s Hall of Fame
2016-08-24
Johnson Space Center’s Ginger Kerrick was one of five women named to this year’s Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Kerrick joins a prestigious group of past honorees, including Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Governor Ann Richards, University of Texas at El Paso President Diana Natalicio and astronaut Sally Ride.
“I am incredibly humbled to be mentioned among women that I looked up to when I was younger,” Kerrick said.
Born and raised in El Paso, Kerrick set her goals early on in life to be either a professional basketball player or an astronaut. After a knee injury ended her basketball dreams, she shifted her considerable drive and energy to her other goal—becoming a NASA astronaut.
At 19 years old, Kerrick transferred to Texas Tech University to participate in NASA’s cooperative education program as she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physics on academic scholarships.
Kerrick accepted a permanent position JSC in 1991 as a material research engineer in safety. In 1995 she transitioned to Mission Operations, working as an instructor for astronauts and Mission Control Center personnel. That same year, Kerrick applied for the astronaut corps and reached the interview stage. Unfortunately, she was medically disqualified during the selection process.
“When I was notified I was no longer a candidate for astronaut, I was devastated,” Kerrick said.
However, instead of giving up on her dream, she transformed herself once again by asking how else she could contribute to the space program.
“I thought, well, if I can’t be an astronaut and go into space, at least I can teach astronauts, and each one of them can carry a little bit of what I taught them into space,” Kerrick said.
That change in perspective allowed her to get back up and come back to work.
In 2001, Kerrick was selected as the first non-astronaut capcom (capsule communicator)—the voice of mission control who communicates with the crew. Kerrick further broke down barriers when she became NASA’s first Hispanic female flight director.
Kerrick was recognized by the Texas Governor's Commission for Women for her outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the nation’s space program, as well as her commitment to inspire others through giving back to her community.
For Kerrick, mentoring students is the most important contribution she makes.
“I try to be for them what I wish I would have had at their age,” Kerrick said. “I wish I would have had an opportunity to meet someone that had been through the path I was on in college and the path I had hoped to take in my STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] career.”
Kerrick regularly promotes STEM disciplines by speaking at schools, universities and nonprofit events throughout Texas. When Kerrick meets with students, she tells them about the opportunities that are available, but also talks to them candidly about the challenges she has faced.
“I encourage them to chart their own path and navigate through whatever life throws at them,” Kerrick said.
In sharing her own inspirational story, Kerrick relays the message that despite challenges, “hard work and determination will lead them to fulfill dreams and aspirations.”
Never one to rest on her laurels, Kerrick is embarking on the next challenge in her career. Kerrick is the division chief for the Flight Operations Directorate’s (FOD) newly created Flight Integration Division. This new division consolidates several FOD functions in support of human spaceflight operations, including safety; program integration; training; payloads; vehicle integration and testing; flight product development and production; software integration and testing; and launch, landing and recovery.
Michelle Fraser-Page
NASA Johnson Space Center
“I am incredibly humbled to be mentioned among women that I looked up to when I was younger,” Kerrick said.
Born and raised in El Paso, Kerrick set her goals early on in life to be either a professional basketball player or an astronaut. After a knee injury ended her basketball dreams, she shifted her considerable drive and energy to her other goal—becoming a NASA astronaut.
At 19 years old, Kerrick transferred to Texas Tech University to participate in NASA’s cooperative education program as she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physics on academic scholarships.
Kerrick accepted a permanent position JSC in 1991 as a material research engineer in safety. In 1995 she transitioned to Mission Operations, working as an instructor for astronauts and Mission Control Center personnel. That same year, Kerrick applied for the astronaut corps and reached the interview stage. Unfortunately, she was medically disqualified during the selection process.
“When I was notified I was no longer a candidate for astronaut, I was devastated,” Kerrick said.
However, instead of giving up on her dream, she transformed herself once again by asking how else she could contribute to the space program.
“I thought, well, if I can’t be an astronaut and go into space, at least I can teach astronauts, and each one of them can carry a little bit of what I taught them into space,” Kerrick said.
That change in perspective allowed her to get back up and come back to work.
In 2001, Kerrick was selected as the first non-astronaut capcom (capsule communicator)—the voice of mission control who communicates with the crew. Kerrick further broke down barriers when she became NASA’s first Hispanic female flight director.
Kerrick was recognized by the Texas Governor's Commission for Women for her outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the nation’s space program, as well as her commitment to inspire others through giving back to her community.
For Kerrick, mentoring students is the most important contribution she makes.
“I try to be for them what I wish I would have had at their age,” Kerrick said. “I wish I would have had an opportunity to meet someone that had been through the path I was on in college and the path I had hoped to take in my STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] career.”
Kerrick regularly promotes STEM disciplines by speaking at schools, universities and nonprofit events throughout Texas. When Kerrick meets with students, she tells them about the opportunities that are available, but also talks to them candidly about the challenges she has faced.
“I encourage them to chart their own path and navigate through whatever life throws at them,” Kerrick said.
In sharing her own inspirational story, Kerrick relays the message that despite challenges, “hard work and determination will lead them to fulfill dreams and aspirations.”
Never one to rest on her laurels, Kerrick is embarking on the next challenge in her career. Kerrick is the division chief for the Flight Operations Directorate’s (FOD) newly created Flight Integration Division. This new division consolidates several FOD functions in support of human spaceflight operations, including safety; program integration; training; payloads; vehicle integration and testing; flight product development and production; software integration and testing; and launch, landing and recovery.
Michelle Fraser-Page
NASA Johnson Space Center