Sharon Caples McDougle shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Sharon, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day consists of checking emails, taking my vitamins, completing a 3 mile walk, making and drinking a smoothie afterwards.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sharon Caples McDougle. I am the founder and CEO of Suit Up with Shay – a black-owned, veteran-owned, woman-owned business. The merchandise available for purchase are children’s books ‘Suit Up for Launch with Shay!’ and ‘Suit Up to Dive with Shay!’, tumblers, earrings, and space suit costumes. I’m available to be booked as a keynote speaker to share my inspirational story, as a panelist, for author visits, readings, and appearances (in-person and virtual options available).
I am also a retired spacesuit technician and Air Force Veteran. I began my aerospace career as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist at Beale Air Force Base supporting SR-71 Blackbird and U2 pilots. I went on to work with the NASA family as a spacesuit technician responsible for processing the orange launch/reentry suits worn by Space Shuttle astronauts. I made history as the first African American spacesuit technician in the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department and the first woman and African American Crew Chief. I made history again when I suited up the first African American woman to go to space. I also led the first and only all-female suit tech crew. I went on to become manager of the CEE department, overseeing the team responsible for suiting up and strapping in astronauts for training, launch, to landing recovery.
I have been featured on Good Morning America, Great Day Houston, and Houston Life. I’ve also been featured at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of African American Heritage and Culture.
Suit Up with Shay’s mission is to inspire, ignite, engage, educate, and represent!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I didn’t believe I was special and I didn’t believe God loved me because he took my parents from me at an early age. As I grew older, I realized I am special because of the life I have lived and continue to live. And I did begin to believe God loved me because of changes in my life. From my Air Force career to my career with the space shuttle program, to meeting and marrying the love of my life and creating our beautiful family and life together.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. I almost gave up on civilian life after I separated from the Air Force. I was having a difficult time finding full-time employment after I left the Air Force. I was working three part-time jobs and sleeping on a friend’s futon for 6 months. I was tired of struggling and was just about to reenlist in the Air Force when a friend called from Houston and informed me there was a spacesuit technician position needing to be filled immediately………..and the rest is HERstory!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A project I am committed to no matter how long it takes is writing my autobiography. I’ve had it on the back burner for a while now and its close to burning up, so I have to get hot! I’ve written bits and pieces here and there, but I haven’t gotten super serious and made myself sit down and start writing.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
I regret not sharing my story much sooner. I believe if I’d shared my story sooner I could’ve inspired more children sooner. I truly believe children need to see themselves represented in various fields to aspire to be there themselves one day. I’d never heard of a space suit technician job and I’m sure many others haven’t either. By sharing my story, my path, I hope to change that. This is one of the reasons I wrote my children’s book Suit Up for Launch with Shay! To let kids know there are other lesser known careers in the aerospace industry. They don’t have to only aspire to be an astronaut or rocket scientist – there’s space for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sharoncaplesmcdougle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suitupforlaunchwithshay/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcdougle-237465bb/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcdougle_sharon
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SharonMcDougleHiddenFigure/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g5rjNOPjeM6XRffCTusgw
- Other: https://m.facebook.com/SuitUpForLaunch/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Caples_McDougle
Smithsonian Collection (Online Virtual Archive): https://sova.si.edu/record/NASM.2022.0042?s=1780&n=10&t=C&q=Museums+–+Administration&i=1783
Good Morning America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jjpJFAgNQU
The Wise Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKf3iHvER-c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUYJ1RhgiI
Image Credits
National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Cosmosphere
Waterline Photography
