Meet Sharon McDougle former Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment Suit Technician/Crew Chief with United Space Alliance

Sharon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am somewhat of a “hidden figure”. Everyone knows that Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel into space – but many don’t know that an African American woman “suited her up”. I was Jemison’s suit tech for her historic mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-47) September 12, 1992. I worked closely with her during her training leading up to launch, as well as actual launch day and landing of the space shuttle – taking care of all of her assigned crew escape equipment – her suit, helmet, writing utensils, even her diaper.

I joined the NASA family through Boeing Aerospace Operations in 1990 where I worked as a Flight Equipment Processing Contract team member in the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department. I began my career as a CEE Suit Technician and was responsible for processing the orange launch and entry suit (LES) assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts. I was assigned to my first mission, STS-37, within a year. I was one of only two women CEE Suit Technicians and the only African American technician when I began my career.

In 1994, I was promoted to the position of Crew Chief making me the first female and first African American Crew Chief in CEE. In my new position, I was responsible for leading a team of suit technicians to suit up astronaut crews and ensuring the astronauts were provided with outstanding support during suited astronaut training, launch, and landing events. In 1998, United Space Alliance (USA) absorbed the Boeing Aerospace Operations contract and I continued in my position as a CEE Crew Chief employed by USA. I traveled to Kennedy Space Center quite often where I worked in support of many space shuttle launches. As Crew Chief, I had the honor of leading the first and only all-female suit tech crew supporting space shuttle mission STS-78.

In 2004, I became the first female and first African American promoted to the position of Manager of the CEE Processing department. In this position, I managed the team of 25+ employees responsible for processing the Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) and related equipment worn by the astronaut crews aboard the space shuttle. My team assisted the astronaut crews in donning/doffing the suit, testing the equipment, strapping the astronauts into the space shuttle before launch, and recovering the crew upon landing. I held this position until the Space Shuttle Program ended in 2011. I continued working until 2012 to help close-out the program, ending an illustrious 22 years career with the space shuttle program.

During my career, I was recognized with the Astronaut “Silver Snoopy” Award, Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award, USA Employee of the Month Teamwork Award, USA Employee of the Month Community Service Award, and the coveted Women of Color in Flight Award from Dr. Mae Jemison recognizing my career as the first and only African American woman suit tech/crew chief in my field. I absolutely loved my job and is proud to have been a part of our nation’s historic Space Shuttle Program.

I’ve been recognized by my home state as a 2018 Mississippi Trailblazer at the 16th Annual Mississippi Trailblazers Awards Ceremony and Black Tie Gala where I received two awards: the Calvin “Buck” Buchanan “FIRST” Award named for Mississippi’s first United States Attorney for the Northern District – honoring a Mississippian who holds the distinction of being the “first” in their profession and the Dr. Cindy Ayers “Legacy” Award honoring a Trailblazer whose singular work and contributions will leave a legacy long after their life has ended.

I’ve also received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Moss Point Visionary Circle during their 6th Annual Living Legends Ball for her military service and NASA career.

I’m also a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran, which is where I began my aerospace career in 1982 after graduating from high school. I served proudly in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist at Beale Air Force Base, CA (1982-1990), reaching the rank of Sergeant (E-4).

During my enlistment, I was a member of the Physiological Support Division (PSD), responsible for training the SR-71 and U-2/TR-1 (“spy planes”) reconnaissance aircraft pilots on high altitude operations. I performed hazardous duty as an inside observer chamber technician and as a chamber operations team member during hypobaric (altitude) and hyperbaric (dive) chamber operations. During the hypobaric chamber flights, crewmembers learned firsthand how hypoxia affects their judgment while flying an aircraft. The crewmembers were taught and practiced how they would handle these types of situations and the importance of wearing all equipment correctly.

I also inspected and maintained flight equipment used for the SR-71 and U-2/TR-1 missions. The equipment included full pressure suit ensembles (helmet, gloves, boots, etc.), harness assemblies, and survival equipment (seat kits and parachutes, and emergency oxygen systems). I sized and fitted crewmembers pressure suits, assisted crewmembers in donning and doffing their suits, and performed functional tests before takeoff. I also loaded the survival seat kits and parachutes into the aircraft, strapped-in the crewmembers before take-off, and recovered the crew upon landing.

I spent much of my enlistment on temporary assignment traveling abroad to Greece, Korea, Japan, and England, as well as stateside locations, in support of the SR-71 and U-2/TR-1 reconnaissance aircraft missions. I separated from the Air Force in 1990 with an honorable discharge.

I currently reside in La Porte, TX with my family – Maronald McDougle my husband of 27 years, my daughter Dominique, and my son Corbin.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it was not a smooth road. I grew up in a small town – Moss Point, Mississippi. I come from a family of twelve and adversity struck early on in my life. My father died when I was four years old; a few years later my mother was killed in a car accident a few blocks from our home when I was seven years old, and no one told me. Afterward, I lived with my oldest sister and her family – and all of her kids were younger than me. Needless to say, I had to grow up real quick. All of a sudden I was thrust into cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, combing hair and any other chore there was to do around the house… by myself. My childhood was challenging to say the least, but I made it through and joined the Air Force after graduating high school.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am available for speaking engagements throughout the year, sharing my inspirational/history making story.

I volunteer with two groups: Unveiled Aspirations and the Khambrel Foundation. I am the executive administrator for Unveiled Aspirations which holds an annual women’s empowerment conference, girls conference, back to school bash, as well as adopting families during the holiday season. Under the Khambrel Foundation, I participate in the B&G Dreambuilders by reading to young children. I also participate in the annual Laundered With Kindness Day where we go to local laundromats and offer assistance to those in need by paying for the use of washers/dryers, providing detergent, etc. I also give back on a personal level by keeping purses and/or bags of goodies on hand in my car to distribute to those who may be in need.

I am an active member of the Red Hat Society Divas With Hattitude Chapter in Houston.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My elementary school teacher Mrs. Carolyn Jennings for giving me the love and support during the time when I needed it the most – when my mother was killed. My high school teacher Mrs. Shirley Owens for the constant praise and making me believe I could do anything. My sister Erma Jean Martin for helping make me the woman I am today. My dear friend Regulo Villalobos for contacting me to inform me about the job opening with Boeing, which lead to my awesome career. And my amazing husband Maronald McDougle for holding down the fort all the times I had to travel in support of the space shuttle program and for loving me unconditionally.