Biography:
Ellen Ochoa is an American engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center. She was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California to Joseph and Rosanne Ochoa. Her paternal grandparents immigrated from Sonora, Mexico to Arizona and later to California. Growing up in La Mesa, California, Ochoa was the middle child of five and neither of her parents had college degrees.
Ochoa attended Grossmont High School in El Cajon, where she graduated in 1975. During her time in high school, her parents divorced and she lived with her mother and brothers. It was during this time that she discovered her love for physics, math, and engineering, ultimately deciding to major in physics.
She went on to pursue higher education and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from San Diego State University in 1980, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Ochoa then earned a Master of Science degree and a doctorate from Stanford University’s Department of Electrical Engineering in 1981 and 1985, respectively.
Ochoa’s research career began during her time as a doctoral student at Stanford University. She specialized in optical systems for performing information processing and continued her research at Sandia National Laboratories and the NASA Ames Research Center. At NASA Ames, she led a research group focused on optical systems for automated space exploration. She also applied her knowledge of optics to the research being done on nuclear weapons at Sandia National Laboratories.
Throughout her career, Ochoa made significant contributions to the field of optics. She patented an optical system to detect defects in a repeating pattern and is a co-inventor on three patents for an optical inspection system, an optical object recognition method, and a method for noise removal in images.
Ochoa’s expertise in optics caught the attention of NASA, and she joined the organization as Chief of the Intelligent Systems Technology Branch at the NASA Ames Research Center. In this role, she supervised 35 engineers and scientists in the research and development of computational systems for aerospace missions. Ochoa’s work in optics had various applications, including inspecting for flaws in fabrications and potential use in space vehicles like the Rover.
In 1993, Ochoa made history as the first Hispanic woman to go into space. She served on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This accomplishment solidified her position as a trailblazer in the field of space exploration and inspired many aspiring scientists and engineers.
Ochoa’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed by NASA. In 2012, she became the director of the Johnson Space Center, making her the first Hispanic person and the second woman to hold this position. She took over the role from Michael Coats and held the position until her retirement.
Throughout her career, Ochoa has presented numerous papers at technical conferences and in scientific journals. Her contributions to the field of optics and space exploration have been recognized through various awards and honors.
Awards:
– NASA Exceptional Service Medal
– NASA Space Flight Medal
– Presidential Distinguished Rank Award
– Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award
– Women in Aerospace Outstanding Achievement Award
– San Diego State University Alumna of the Year Award
– National Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee
Ellen Ochoa’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a pioneer in space exploration and a respected leader in the scientific community serves as an inspiration to future generations. Her achievements have not only advanced our understanding of optics and space technology but also broken barriers for women and minorities in STEM.