As program executive, Steve Volz acts as the single point of contact between the project and NASA Headquarters. During development, he relays issues related to cost and requirements and other items to Headquarters management for their review. He is also a critical advocate for the project. "I try to remain aware of everything that is going on and I provide assessments and recommendations to Headquarters management," said Volz. "As an advocate, I break down barriers -- inter-departmental, inter-agency, inter-center -- and look beyond one group's specific needs in order to speak for the project as a whole."
Image left: Shown here is Steve Volz, the NASA Science Mission Directorate program executive for CALIPSO.
What attracted you to the CALIPSO mission?
I came to CALIPSO in 2003 following the successful ICESat mission. I thought this mission would be an interesting challenge as well as a nice fit for my style. I was also interested in the international portion of the mission.
What's your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from clearing up problems and breaking up log jams. I also enjoy learning about the scientific goals of the mission. Being part of a large team to get things accomplished is very rewarding to me.
What interesting perspectives do you bring to the team?
I am a generalist -- I love learning new things, working with people from different cultures and with different technical expertise and traveling to new places. I also really enjoy complex issues -- solving problems and seeing things from a different angle.
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