Name: Rickicia Cheatham
Formal Job Classification: Resource Analyst
Organization: Engineering Business Branch, Code 159.3
Currently supporting the Electrical Engineering Division – Code 560
What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard?
I serve as an intermediary between Code 159.3 Business Office and the Electrical Engineering Division (Code 560). Throughout the fiscal year, I am responsible for collaboratively managing annual center engineering, safety, and operations budget, as well as other internal research awards (IRADS). A major highlight for me was managing a portion of funding for the Station Explorer for X-Ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) experiment. It was exciting to interface with the engineering team towards the end of the project and witness the system successfully launching.
What is your background?
In May 2013, I received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Four years later in December 2017, I earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Acquisition from Strayer University in Washington D.C.
From 2013 to 2015, I was a dedicated aide supporting scholars with special needs in a public elementary school in Prince George’s County, Maryland. During that time, I wanted to be an English teacher. One year, during our “winter breaks,” one of our students passed away, and emotionally it was very hard for me to continue. After taking a mini-hiatus, I decided to dive into my second passion and pursue a career in the business administration field.
In 2016, I arrived at Goddard under the Pathways Program supporting the Procurement Division (Code 210) and became permanent one year later as a contract specialist.
After two years of being a contract specialist, I felt in my heart that I needed to make a change not knowing that it would be within my career. After crossing paths with a resource analyst in a hallway, we agreed to informally tag up, and she gave me an overview of her role. It was during that impromptu lunch meeting that I knew this position was the one for me. It was a “no brainer.” I truly enjoy working with numbers and problem solving, so I applied for an open resource analyst position. Making the switch was a little scary, but I am very happy that I took a step out on faith.
How does it feel to be a Goddard legacy?
I never thought about being a Goddard legacy and how it’s truly an honor until now. As a child, my mother would come home with stickers from Goddard missions and offer to take me to work with her during spring break. Back then, she was a contract specialist, and my job was to help file back documents and organize hardcopy contract files. I didn’t know that one day I would be an employee, but it was a treat to tour buildings and meet some of her colleagues. As a second generation at Goddard, I think that it’s pretty cool to not only witness a part of my mom’s journey in her career, but to have her see a piece of my own.
Since I’ve been at Goddard, we have made Thursday’s our “sushi date” and just chat about life during our walks. She has always advised me to take the time to figure out my passion and not to be afraid to blaze my own trail.
In addition to your mother, who are your mentors and what do they tell you?
Naimah Bhuruku has often encouraged me and said to never settle, to try to find the career path that excites me to wake up in the morning. She has also challenged me to be authentic, to show up as myself independent of my mother. My mother introduced us one day, and I instantly gravitated towards her bubbly personality. Naimah was a contracting officer at the time and I was still an intern.
Lashawn Feimster, a procurement manager, “Mrs. Sunshine” was introduced to me by my mother during an office visit. As an intern, I was extremely shy and nervous about attending meetings, so she would remind me in our pep talks to be confident and to remember who I am.
Both Naimah and Lashawn have served as change agents in my life, as well as within Goddard.
In addition to your mother, who inspires you?
My maternal grandmother inspired me because she had such a positive attitude and just gracious. We would check in everyday, and she was overjoyed at the fact that I was working at NASA. My grandmother, who was also a dreamer just like me, would tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be and that my dreams were not too far-fetched. I just needed to maintain a positive attitude and to be open to learning from either something or someone everyday.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I could see myself as a financial manager or senior analyst. Outside of Goddard, I plan to have at least one business venture launched and a book released.
What are your hobbies?
I am a big fan of the arts and love Broadway plays, visiting contemporary art museums, and attending concerts. Outside of that, I love to travel. So far, I have been to the Bahamas, Grenada, and Cuba. In the future, I would love to go to either India or Bali.
Also, my partner and I are foodies. She cooks and I’m the taste-tester. I’m taking baby steps into the kitchen to learn how to cook. We also enjoy trying out new restaurants.
Conversations With Goddard is a collection of question and answer profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.