Dan Krieger

My interest in aerospace did not begin with a dream to work at NASA. Much of my story has to do with being at the right place at the right time. I grew up in Greenbelt Maryland, the last place where I thought I would be as a professional. While studying my bachelor’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Maryland, I worked in the university library, which at the time, held meetings and job applications for federal internships. Looking for a job at this library in the 80s, I came across a posting by NASA, it said that they were looking for a reader, someone that could interpret documents for a blind woman working in human resources. I worked with this woman all summer, and one day, while reading, the Deputy Director of HR walked in and asked “Would you like a job - here at NASA?”. At 20 years old, this is what started my career in aerospace. 

I did not enter aerospace through a traditional technical pathway. My background in Industrial-Organizational Psychology meant my focus was on people and organizational effectiveness. Realizing that human-centered systems mattered as much as technical work, I embraced opportunities that let me transition naturally into this field.

When I started in HR at NASA Goddard, I was placed in Training & Development, I developed a Russian language training program and helped develop and improve upon NASA’s internship program. During this time, however, my boss (the one from earlier), said that it was time for me to complete a new rotation, this time sending me to Classification and Staffing. I did not want to do this, and began preparation to quit my job. However, right before I was about to leave, I found an opportunity in the Equal Employment and Opportunity (EEO) Office. The position focused on internal complaints within the NASA Goddard system. I got this opportunity because the hiring team specifically looked for someone who could speak Spanish. In 1990, I moved to a new office within EEO, one where I could focus on improving employee and intern programs. While here, my most meaningful work was contributing to the development of pathways and internship programs that specifically reached historically low income communities. I worked directly with this internship program for 15 years, even today, I still talk to some of the students that I brought into NASA.

The biggest challenge that I faced was actually the transition from NASA to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This was a difficult but necessary decision for me at the time, being at NASA for over 30 years, this was not an easy choice and took serious emotional overcoming to get through. However, I was able to land on my feet, I did this by taking the (people) skills I learned from NASA and applying them to a new culture, expectations, priorities, and procedures. 

I have been thinking about how I want to re-answer a question such as; 'how do I stay motivated in moments of stress and setbacks'. These days, I’ve found that my natural optimism has been shaken, but despite this, I want to keep moving forward. I believe that leaning on others when needed is helpful for your mental and physical health. I re-align my drive through physical activity such as going to the gym, and through social engagement, such as family support, spending time with friends, and travelling around the world. 

I think that number one quality to have as an aerospace professional is inquisitiveness, know your stuff. As an HR executive, I can tell when you've done your homework, and really understand the culture, mission, and values of the company. We in the aerospace industry want to see that you have people skills, leadership skills, you are hungry and that you will add value. Consider asking someone if they would be willing to let you shadow them. This signals that you have an interest in this area of the industry and you will continue to grow your contacts just by being interested. Play on your strengths as this will demonstrate that you will add value if given the opportunity. 

If I am honest, based solely on my experience, people are not going the extra mile like they used to. Opportunities used to bring in interns and entry level professionals, taking 400 + new employees and now, they are limiting to only a 100 out of thousands of applicants. What does this mean? This means that in order to break into the field, you must find ways to differentiate yourself. How do you do this? When you begin working (on anything, whether that is school or professional related), you must do so with a positive attitude. In addition to that, you are going to want to go to professional lectures and volunteer to have an opportunity to interact with professionals in your field. In doing so, you can find out what you don’t want to do as well. This includes things that don’t align with your values, or your mission of self, these are just as valuable, as the things you don’t want to do helps you find what you do want.

Successful coordination occurs when people understand their roles and how their work supports others. Programs excel with open communication, clear expectations, and respect for expertise, all built on trust, structure, and shared responsibility.

In terms of what behaviors and what values are encouraged, I would say that despite both being aerospace agencies in the U.S. government, my two places that I worked at had different values for which leadership sought. At NASA, employees were expected to be creative and dedicated to the mission while being technical, being able to work well in larger teams. Interpersonal skills was at the core of NASA's personnel values. Scientists were the one's that dreamed, engineers would figure out how to build those dreams, and mission support would support the infrastructure to secure those dreams. At the NRO, the values structure was slightly different. When I say this, I mean that there was a difference in the nature of work and workforce. People were typically in and out of projects and the agency within a 3 year timeframe. The leadership typically valued structure over creativity. At NASA, personnel worked alongside each other at all levels, while this agency has a particularly rigid hierarchy. These highlights are meant to help you navigate which values you personally lean towards as they have implications for your peace of mind.

You must find ways to differentiate yourself. Attend professional lectures, volunteer, and look for opportunities to interact directly with people already in the field. Those interactions can help you discover not only what you want to do, but also what you don’t want to do and that clarity is just as valuable. Pay attention to what aligns with your values and your personal mission. The more intentional you are, the more likely you are to find a path that truly fits and to build a meaningful and lasting aerospace career.