JoAnn H. Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
JoAnn Hardin Morgan
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Former Director of External Relations and Business Development at NASA Kennedy Space Center.
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| Born | December 4, 1940 |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aerospace engineer |
| Institutions | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
JoAnn Hardin Morgan (born December 4, 1940) is an American aerospace engineer. She made history as the first female engineer at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. She was also the first woman to become a senior leader there.
For her amazing work at NASA, JoAnn Morgan was honored by U.S. President Bill Clinton. She received the Meritorious Executive award in both 1995 and 1998. Before she retired in 2003, she spent over 40 years in leadership roles. She worked on programs that sent humans into space. In her last years at the space center, she was the director of External Relations and Business Development.
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JoAnn's Early Life and Education
JoAnn Hardin was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on December 4, 1940. She was the oldest of four children. Her father was a U.S. Army pilot stationed near Huntsville during World War Two.
When JoAnn was in high school, her family moved to Titusville, Florida. Her father worked at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the U.S. Army's rocket program. There, she met her future husband, Larry Morgan.
Starting Her Career
Right after finishing high school in June 1958, JoAnn joined the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Cape Canaveral. She started as a civilian engineering aide. In the fall of 1958, she began studying mathematics at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
During her summer breaks, she kept working at Cape Canaveral. She learned from important people like the German-American engineer Wernher von Braun. As an engineering aide, JoAnn got hands-on experience. She helped design computer systems for rocket launches in early NASA flight programs.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics in 1963, she started working full-time for NASA. She became an aerospace engineer at the Kennedy Space Center.
Working at Kennedy Space Center
In 1963, JoAnn Morgan began her full-time job at Kennedy Space Center. She was the only female engineer there. She later said that she "would remain the only woman there for a long time."
A very important moment in her career was the launch of Apollo 11. On July 16, 1969, JoAnn Morgan was the only female engineer in the firing room. This was the control room where engineers monitored the rocket launch.
JoAnn also shared a funny story about her early days. She mentioned that "for the first 15 years, I worked in a building where there wasn't a ladies' rest room." She added that "it was a big day in my book when there was one."
Rising to Leadership
JoAnn Morgan was chosen for a special program called the Sloan Fellowship. This program helped prepare her for a management position at the space center. She went to Stanford University and earned a Masters of Science degree in 1977.
Two years later, she was promoted to lead the Computer Services Division. In her final years at NASA, JoAnn Morgan served as the director of External Relations and Business Development. For a few months in 2002, she also worked as the acting deputy director of KSC. JoAnn Morgan retired in August 2003, after 45 years of service to NASA.
Awards and Recognition
JoAnn Morgan received many honors for her contributions. U.S. President Bill Clinton recognized her as a Meritorious Executive in 1995 and 1998. In 1995, she was also added to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
Throughout her career, JoAnn Morgan earned many awards. These included an achievement award for her work on Apollo Launch Complex 39. She also received four exceptional service medals and two outstanding leadership medals. She got an Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1991 and 2001.
Other awards include the Society of Women Engineer's National "Upward Mobility Award." She also received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' "J. Tal Webb Award" in 1994. In 1996, she earned the "Distinguished Service Award." The "Achievement Award for Management Leadership" came in 1998. She also received the "Debus Award" and the "1998 Presidential Distinguished Rank Award" that same year.
JoAnn Morgan is a member of several important groups, including AIAA, the National Space Club, and Tau Beta Pi. She was also appointed as a Trustee for Florida state universities in 2001 and 2003.
See also
In Spanish: JoAnn Hardin Morgan para niños
