Katie Carr Kopcso

Katie Carr Kopcso

Construction Project Manager


NASA, Stennis Space Center

Gulfport, MS USA


Don't prejudge yourself. Don't let doubt rule you. Push and put in for things you're curious about. Look for that dream and follow that mission, and you never know—you might get it.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Katie Carr Kopcso

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
Studied chemical engineering with a minor in aviation at Louisiana Tech University.
Spent her spare time during school flying search and rescue missions for the Civil Air Patrol in New Orleans.
Right before she graduated from college, the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded over Texas, where she was going to school.
NASA’s response to the disaster was to hire a whole new crop of young engineers to fix the problem, and Katie applied to several of the resulting job openings.
The day she got an interview, astronaut Eileen Collins was in town to visit NASA, and she gave an inspiring speech about persisting in the face of the disaster.
After hearing that speech, Katie knew that she had to work on the “return to flight” program.
The NASA team she ultimately ended up joining helped to send Eileen Collins back into space just a few short years later.
Says that even though her engineering major was grueling, and the work she does with NASA can be tough at times, contributing to the progress in space exploration makes it all worth it.
Keep following my journey

Career

Construction Project Manager

I am an engineer who manages construction projects at NASA to ensure safety for test launches.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Science
Building Things

Day to Day

I participate in contractor oversight and management of design and construction activities in the test complex with a focus on B2 Test Stand Revitalization projects in support of Space Launch System (SLS) testing. I ensure design and construction contract requirements are met during the construction process and update affected drawings and documentation at the end of the construction project.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for college students

Always strive to further your education, whether it's in school or by furthering the core concepts that school teaches you. Practice those core principles and never stop learning.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

"This is so hard, how will I get this? "