Each May, NASA celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, highlighting and celebrating the work and contributions of team members across the agency. Our Marshall AAPI community plays an essential role in helping NASA reach our mission goals, and inspiring the next generation to reach for the stars. Whether observing and studying the cosmos, enabling our workforce to safely continue work during a pandemic, or helping us explore other worlds, each of these team members embodies the spirit of exploration and unity.
Michelle Hui
Michelle Hui is a research astrophysicist at Marshall Space Flight Center. Credits: NASA
Title: Research Astrophysicist
My role at NASA: I ensure smooth operation of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor and creation of its science products for the astronomical community. Scientific analysis of gamma-ray transients with Fermi-GBM data and collaborate with other observatories. Software and hardware development for future missions.
Hometown: Hong Kong
Years at NASA: Five
Why I do what I do: Scientific discovery can happen anytime given the transient nature of the phenomena that I study. Having a hand in developing future missions to continue studying these objects is very exciting.
Some of the people who have inspired and influenced my life and career: My parents have always encouraged me to try new experiences, and it is a principle I strive to live by. It has brought me to many fascinating places and to meeting many interesting people. My high school physics teacher, Mr. Puglise, helped me cultivate a love of physics early on, and since then I have had many supportive professors and mentors that led me to where I am now.
Sara Yoon
Title: IT Specialist
My role at NASA: I am the NASA Center Lead for Vulnerability and Patch Management under the Office of the Chief Information Officer. My job is to make sure our security tools are operational and functioning as they should. As the center lead, I work closely with my counterparts at the agency level, and we often respond to data calls from the Department of Homeland Security.
Hometown: Madison, Alabama
Years at NASA: 15
Why I do what I do: In 2020, when mandatory telework had just started, there were a lot of IT requests that came through. Having a huge need to provide customer services for the user community was something that encouraged me to keep working.
Some of the people who have inspired/influenced my life and career: Over the years at NASA, I have met many inspirational individuals who have made an impact on my life one way or another. One person who I’ll always appreciate is Chrissa Hall. When I was a co-op student in 2005, she was the lead for the NASA co-op program, and without her support and mentorship, I probably would not be where I am today.
Gayleen Cheek Ijames
Title: Mission Operations Lead Engineer
My role at NASA: As the Mission Operations Lead Engineer for the Mars Ascent Vehicle and MoonBEAM Missions, I am responsible for leading the design, development and testing of the ground systems architecture and mission operations infrastructure to ensure successful execution of spacecraft communications and operations.
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Years at NASA: 14
Why I do what I do: As a child, I loved solving puzzles and found excitement in playing strategy games. Now as an adult, I find the same excitement and passion in fitting “operations” puzzle pieces together for a mission, building the framework for a communications data path, assembling a flight control team and orchestrating the operations of a spacecraft.
Some of the people who have inspired and influenced my life and career: I find inspiration in a variety of people in my life. My parents have always encouraged me to set goals, work hard and have fun. My high school calculus teacher, Mrs. Vann, and physics teacher, Mrs. Hunt, introduced me to the many ways the universe is interconnected, which has held my curiosity until now. My NASA mentor, Lisa Watson-Morgan, taught me that anything is possible as long you put your mind to it.
In 2007, I started my career as an intern working in the Ground Systems Branch, under the supervision of Lisa Watson-Morgan. As we were planning my rotations, I remember her challenging me to dream big. Even though a rotation working in the Shuttle Launch Control Room at Kennedy Space Center with the Mission Management Team or working in a block house with a test conductor and commanding “fire!” during an engine igniter test seemed completely impossible for a fresh-out-of-college intern, it was sure far from it. She has continued to be a great mentor to me as I progress in my career which in turn has inspired me to be a mentor to others.