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Edward Gonzales: Advocating for Underserved Communities

Eddie Gonzales with LatinX/Native American undergrads
Eddie Gonzales works to mentor Native American students and others in underserved communities.

Days before his 13th birthday, Edward Gonzales lost his father. In spite of childhood hardships, the strong work ethic that his father instilled drove him to obtain employment at one of the largest law firms on the West Coast – O’Melveny and Myers LLP. While at O’Melveny, he managed the Mail Services Department and supported events for former Secretary of State, the Honorable Warren Christopher. After working for the firm for over a decade and furthering his education, a friend mentioned an opening at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He was hired as a business administrator, but quickly gravitated to the education side of the house. Since 2001, he has worked with underserved, underrepresented minorities and communities in the capacity of mentoring, co-managing various programs, attending and supporting national conferences, including the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), The Society of Hispanic Professionals and Engineers (SHPE), Great Minds in STEM (GMIS), Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and others. During his time with NASA, he has won numerous awards, completed a detail at NASA Headquarters and a fellowship. In 2018, he was promoted to lead STEM engagement for underserved, underrepresented minorities at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

In this image, Gonzales is second from right and flanked by students he has mentored.

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Image Credit: courtesy of Eddie Gonzales