Dr. Aprille Joy Ericsson
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Guidance, Navigation & Control Center

I was born the oldest of four daughters in Brooklyn, NY. I spent my childhood growing up in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood; specifically, the Roosevelt projects on Dekalb Avenue. I was bussed to the elementary school, P.S. 199 in Brooklyn. I first realized I had an aptitude for Mathematics and Science during my attendance at Marine Park JHS; there I was the only black student enrolled in the Special Progress program. CONT. BELOW

In my senior year of JHS, I won 2nd place in the Science Fair and scored in the 90's on all my regent and citywide exams. I graduated with high honors and was a member of: the school band, the girls basketball team, the science club and the honors club. I passed the exams for all of New York's Technical High Schools: the Bronx School of Science, Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Technical. But instead of attending those schools, I moved to Cambridge, MA to live with my grandparents and attended high school at the Cambridge School of Weston. I played basketball and softball in high school and in the Cambridge Recreation Leagues. The summer following my junior year of HS, I participated in the UNITE (now called MITE) Program. The following year, I was a volunteer Physical Education Teacher for several Cambridge elementary schools. Today, I still enjoy playing football, basketball, softball, cycling and tennis. On weekends, I travel to tournaments to play coed softball with my team, the Hardrock Senators/Team Thomas.

After graduating from high school with honors I entered college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where I received my Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering.

During my undergraduate years at MIT, I was involved with several projects that were geared toward manned space flight. These projects involved working with: a) the Applied Physics Laboratory - developed a fiber optic laser gyroscope, b) the Space Systems Laboratory - created a database for EVA neutral buoyancy activities performed at NASA Johnson Space Center, and c) Senior Project - Manned Mars Mission crew systems specialist for interplanetary vehicle. These projects generated a strong desire to participate in manned space missions. With this in mind, I have applied for NASA's astronaut program; unfortunately, over the past several years, I had been placed on a medical review for asthma. Just recently, I received a prescreening medical application and several of my references were contacted.

Upon completion of my education at MIT, I was encouraged by my best friend to attend Howard University (HU) in Washington, DC. There I obtained a Masters of Engineering and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace option. My Ph.D. research objective at HU was to develop practical design procedures that can be used in conjunction with optimal digital controllers for future orbiting large space structure systems like the Space Station. As a student at HU, I was extremely fortunate. My education was funded by many fellowships and grants: NASA GSFC co-op, HU Terminal Dissertation Year, NASA Center for Studies of Terrestrial & Extra Terrestrial Atmospheres, Wright Patterson Air Force Laboratories and Dorothy Danford Compton Dissertation, NASA DC Space Grant Consortium, Patricia Roberts Harris, and Pacific Telesis Foundation. During graduate school, I participated in some really cool summer programs: SEICA and NASA Space Academy. My research at HU allowed me to travel to Germany, Canada, England, and throughout the US to present technical papers. During my travels, I won several student paper competitions; the last one and the most prestigious was the 6th International Space Conference for Pacific-Basin Societies where I won 1st place for the Ph.D. student competition.

Currently, I work at the NASA GSFC in the Guidance, Navigation & Control Center as an aerospace engineer. My primary job is to maintain the stability of the attitude control systems on a MIDEX project called MAP-Microwave Anisotropy Probe. Its anticipated launch date is November of 2000. My engineering responsibilities require maintaining the spacecraft's orientation and position during most phases of the mission. Using computers, I calculate and simulate structural vibrations, thrusting scenarios and environmental disturbances. Prior to MAP, in the past, I worked on three other satellite projects: XTE-X-Ray Timing Explorer, TRMM-Tropical Rain Forest Measurement Mission and TRACE-Transition Region & Coronal Explorer. For these missions, I either developed or utilized dynamic modeling simulation programs. These programs are invaluable in predetermining the dynamics and structural reactions of the spacecraft and determining the best methods to control the spacecraft. I also worked on a feasibility study for a New Millennium microsat project, Colibri. I found this mission extremely exciting because it would have implemented new technologies and innovative guidance, navigation and control techniques, (e.g., Global Positioning System -GPS) for a miniature system.

I am a member of the NASA GSFC Speakers Bureau and the Women of NASA Group (WON) and I have been Aerospace-Rocketry-Mechanical-Engineering-Professor-Computer Instructor-Career Advisor-Mentor and Friend for many students. I work with all student age groups for I feel it is important to create an early mathematical and/or scientific interest in young people and maintain it throughout their later years. I have also created an email pipeline for under-represented groups in the technology fields to distribute the announcements for federal grants, internships and employment. As a proposal and application reviewer for NASA GSFC and Headquarters programs, I try to ensure that there is a fair review of all applicants regardless of race or gender.

Last spring, I taught Vibrations Analysis at HU in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Occasionally, I teach in the Mathematics Department at Bowie State University (BSU). In the past, I was contracted by BSU to help improve their engineering curriculum by designing two new courses for the freshmen and sophomore students. They were a professional engineering overview seminar and an engineering design course. These classes will help students matriculate into engineering course work. The exposure to professionals in a seminar environment will allow them to view the various engineering disciplines prior to attending a secondary college to complete their engineering degrees.

In the future, I would like to be a full-time professor and teach Aerospace Engineering, preferably at one of the Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU). The NASA GSFC experience has allowed me to learn current software and implement innovative ideas, as well as gain hands-on training in spacecraft design. Utilizing my training from GSFC, I hope to develop a satellite research center at an HBCU; students could build and design microsats for piggyback payload type space missions. Once I have become an established professor, I plan to help create and chair an Aerospace Department at HU. I will offer administrative, teaching, education and technology policy experience to the university by utilizing my past exposure as the Graduate Student Council President, HU Presidential appointed committees, NASA GSFC committees, NTA committees, review boards, University professor and White House technical forums attendee.

In 1996 and 1997, I was acknowledged by the National Technical Association, for being amongst the Top 50 minority women in Science and Engineering. In 1997, I received The "Women in Science and Engineering" award for being the best female engineer in the Federal Government that year. In 1998, I received a Special Recognition Award at the Black Engineers Award Conference. During 1999, I received two NASA awards, they were: 1998 NASA Goddard Honor Award for Excellence in Outreach (individual) and Center of Excellence Award for the TRMM Project (Group). Also during 1999, I received a "1999 Federal Career Award" from The Federal Executive Board of Excellence of Maryland, a "Topp's Africa-Centered Award" from Bowie State University, and a "Centurion of Technology Award" at the Women of Color Technology Awards Conference. In January, I was featured by NBC Nightly News in their series, "Women to Watch". This February, I will receive a "Giant in Science Award" from The Quality Education for Minorities Network: Mathematics, Science and Engineering.

I am proud to be the first African American female to receive a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from HU; the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, the Aerospace option from HU; and the first African American female to receive a Ph.D. in Engineering at NASA GSFC.