After moving to Huntsville, Alabama – the “Rocket City” – 22 years ago to attend a local university, it wasn’t long after graduating that Doug Stewart felt a desire to support NASA’s inspirational mission. Today, Stewart is a management and program analyst within the Program Planning and Control (PP&C) office supporting NASA’s Human Landing (HLS) Program, part of the team that will inspire the world when Americans return to the Moon.
Stewart was first introduced to the space industry through friends who had urged him to consider working for NASA nearly 10 years ago while he was providing business and budget support at Teledyne Brown Engineering. Not long after, he provided support to the Earth Science Division at NASA, and then later the Gateway and HLS programs.
“After learning about all the exciting projects NASA was involved with, I knew I had to be a part of something that was bigger than me and that was important to my generation and future generations.” Stewart said, “I never thought I would be a part of an organization that was doing something as cool and rewarding as exploring space and going back to the Moon.”
Stewart attended Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. “Attending an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) was something I learned about from members of my family who also attended HBCUs. I knew it was going to be a different experience than attending a traditional university, and it was something I wanted to pursue,” Stewart said.
After college, Stewart stayed in Huntsville and continued to work in the business field until his career path led him to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. He said he is thankful for the opportunities afforded him by those who came before.
“African Americans have done so much for NASA and this country, and I am very proud and aware of that and thankful for those who paved the way for me,” Stewart said. “I take time during Black History Month to learn more about my heritage and also to reflect on how fortunate I am to work for NASA and HLS, where diversity is a cornerstone to their success.”
Stewart joined the Artemis team working with the Gateway program at Marshall in 2019. He joined the HLS team in 2021, managing the program’s budget. Under Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.
“Being on the same team with scientists who will get us back to the Moon for the first time since 1972 and for a sustained period is incredible,” Stewart said. “Knowing that a diverse NASA workforce of today and also those before me contributed to a more inclusive crew landing on the lunar surface is incredibly important to me and adds additional meaning to Black History Month.”
The Human Landing System is the mode of transportation that will take astronauts to the lunar surface in the Artemis lunar exploration program.