NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

What is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? A typical day for me begins with checking my emails, phone mails, and calendar to see what my day holds. In awarding and administering contracts, every day offers something different. I’m always putting out fires! I share a two-person office. Since I’m currently leading a Source Evaluation Board, I also temporarily have a separate office in a secure building without windows. My "cool NASA tool" consists of a laptop. Teamwork is very, very important to be able to complete my job and support my customers. It is essential. Contract Specialists are not one man shows. What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done as part of your job at Goddard? When I was in public affairs, I got to support and later see the HST Servicing Mission launch at 4:00 AM. It was amazing! It was pitch dark outside, but the launch lit up the whole sky so much you could barely even see.

Photo of Jennifer O'Connell Credit: NASA/Rebecca Roth

What makes Goddard a great place to work?

If somebody asked you, “What is Goddard,” what would you tell them?

Do you have a favorite book, magazine, movie, or TV show?

The O'Connell Family catches the latest episode of "American Idol." From left to right: the family dog, Jenna O'Connell (10) Jennifer O'Connell, Jordan O'Connell (7) and Donald O'Connell. › View larger image Credit: Donald O'Connell.

I really like watching “American Idol” with my husband and my children who are ten and seven. We cheer for a lot of the same people! Is there someplace in the world that you want to visit, or someplace you have been and want to go back? I’ve never been to Italy, but my grandmother’s family is from Sicily and I’d like to go with my family. My sisters and I sent our mother, but did not get the chance to go with her before she passed away. So I’d like to go soon with my sisters’ families as well as mine. Lastly, is there anything else you would like to say? I am also a Diversity Dialogue Facilitator which means that I help people talk about diverse topics. Goddard is working towards enhancing the culture for everyone.