Rocio Garcia credits mentors for her fast-track career success
2013-10-22
For Hispanic Heritage Month, Johnson Space Center is honoring a few Hispanic-American employees whose culture and history has helped shaped them into the people they are today.
Rocio Garcia came into the world on Mexico’s Independence Day, which may have been a harbinger of what was to come in her life. Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Garcia left her home country at the age of 4 with her family for the United States—the land of opportunity.
“At an early age, my parents instilled in me the value of an education, the power of perseverance and the importance of being proud of who I am,” Garcia said, who is currently the Expedition 37 lead Trajectory Analyst (TA) at Johnson Space Center.
But her new country alone didn’t just hold the keys to a better future—it was really Garcia’s mentors along the way who made all the difference.
“In high school, I was very fortunate to have teachers and mentors who believed in me, provided guidance and encouraged me to go to college,” Garcia said. “I had all the resources available, applied to scholarships and won the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which paid for all four years of college.”
Months before her high school graduation, Garcia let her parents know that she would finish her education in Austin rather than Houston.
“Initially, they didn’t understand why I couldn’t stay in Houston, and I eventually convinced them that the University of Texas provided me with more opportunities,” Garcia said.
Though Garcia had always dreamed of working for the space program, she didn’t realize her vision would come to fruition so soon.
“I started working at JSC in 2007, shortly after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering,” Garcia said. “I began my career at JSC in the Pointing and Attitude Office, where I led or was part of a team for 13 shuttle missions.”
Now in the Trajectory Operations Officer (TOPO) training flow and the lead TA for Expedition 37, Garcia is responsible for planning and knowing where the International Space Station (ISS) and its supporting vehicles are, where they are going to be and ensuring that they do not get hit by anything.
“As the TA lead, I assist the lead Increment TOPO in trajectory analysis and product development,” Garcia said of her position. “I recently transitioned to the TOPO office in February, and I love the fact that I am already contributing in the office. One of my most interesting projects was keeping two different plans of the trajectory, assuming a re-boost and de-boost case for the ISS in October 2013.”
Garcia notes that diversity in the workplace is valuable in enhancing relationships with her co-workers.
“Diversity brings together different talents towards a common goal and different ways of thinking, solving problems and decision making,” Garcia said. “As flight controllers, we are fortunate to see this with our coordination and work with our International Partners.”
Garcia’s path to her own independence has made her grateful for the opportunities she’s received along the way, and she continues to pay it forward with her work in the community.
“I’ve been involved with the Society of Hispanic of Professional Engineer-Texas Bay Area Chapter (SHPE-TBAC) since 2008 and have held officer positions such as president, vice president, secretary and vice president of Community Outreach,” Garcia said. “One of my favorite volunteering events was reading to a group of elementary students at Clemente Martinez Elementary during their annual Reader’s Day Conference. In addition, SHPE-TBAC gives back to the community by offering scholarships to students in the Houston area who are pursuing a degree engineering, computer science, physical science or mathematics. It’s a great reward to meet the student who wins the scholarship and talk about their goals and ambitions.”
Garcia has survived the obstacles and made it to the other side, and now she can’t wait to see others do the same.
Catherine Ragin Williams
NASA Johnson Space Center
Rocio Garcia came into the world on Mexico’s Independence Day, which may have been a harbinger of what was to come in her life. Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Garcia left her home country at the age of 4 with her family for the United States—the land of opportunity.
“At an early age, my parents instilled in me the value of an education, the power of perseverance and the importance of being proud of who I am,” Garcia said, who is currently the Expedition 37 lead Trajectory Analyst (TA) at Johnson Space Center.
But her new country alone didn’t just hold the keys to a better future—it was really Garcia’s mentors along the way who made all the difference.
“In high school, I was very fortunate to have teachers and mentors who believed in me, provided guidance and encouraged me to go to college,” Garcia said. “I had all the resources available, applied to scholarships and won the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which paid for all four years of college.”
Months before her high school graduation, Garcia let her parents know that she would finish her education in Austin rather than Houston.
“Initially, they didn’t understand why I couldn’t stay in Houston, and I eventually convinced them that the University of Texas provided me with more opportunities,” Garcia said.
Though Garcia had always dreamed of working for the space program, she didn’t realize her vision would come to fruition so soon.
“I started working at JSC in 2007, shortly after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering,” Garcia said. “I began my career at JSC in the Pointing and Attitude Office, where I led or was part of a team for 13 shuttle missions.”
Now in the Trajectory Operations Officer (TOPO) training flow and the lead TA for Expedition 37, Garcia is responsible for planning and knowing where the International Space Station (ISS) and its supporting vehicles are, where they are going to be and ensuring that they do not get hit by anything.
“As the TA lead, I assist the lead Increment TOPO in trajectory analysis and product development,” Garcia said of her position. “I recently transitioned to the TOPO office in February, and I love the fact that I am already contributing in the office. One of my most interesting projects was keeping two different plans of the trajectory, assuming a re-boost and de-boost case for the ISS in October 2013.”
Garcia notes that diversity in the workplace is valuable in enhancing relationships with her co-workers.
“Diversity brings together different talents towards a common goal and different ways of thinking, solving problems and decision making,” Garcia said. “As flight controllers, we are fortunate to see this with our coordination and work with our International Partners.”
Garcia’s path to her own independence has made her grateful for the opportunities she’s received along the way, and she continues to pay it forward with her work in the community.
“I’ve been involved with the Society of Hispanic of Professional Engineer-Texas Bay Area Chapter (SHPE-TBAC) since 2008 and have held officer positions such as president, vice president, secretary and vice president of Community Outreach,” Garcia said. “One of my favorite volunteering events was reading to a group of elementary students at Clemente Martinez Elementary during their annual Reader’s Day Conference. In addition, SHPE-TBAC gives back to the community by offering scholarships to students in the Houston area who are pursuing a degree engineering, computer science, physical science or mathematics. It’s a great reward to meet the student who wins the scholarship and talk about their goals and ambitions.”
Garcia has survived the obstacles and made it to the other side, and now she can’t wait to see others do the same.
Catherine Ragin Williams
NASA Johnson Space Center