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 a famous 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, President Bill Clinton honored her twice. She received the Meritorious Executive award in 1995 and 1998. Before she retired in 2003, JoAnn Morgan spent over 40 years at NASA. She held many important jobs in human space flight programs. In her last years at the space center, she was the director of External Relations and Business Development.
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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 nearby during World War Two.
When JoAnn was in high school, her family moved to Titusville, Florida. Her father worked at Cape Canaveral. He helped with the U.S. Army's rocket program. There, she met her future husband, Larry Morgan.
Right after high school in June 1958, she started working. She joined the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Cape Canaveral. She worked as a civilian engineering aide. In the fall of 1958, JoAnn went to the University of Florida. She studied mathematics there. During her summer breaks, she kept working at Cape Canaveral. She learned from mentors like the German-American engineer Wernher von Braun.
As an engineering aide, JoAnn gained hands-on experience. She helped design computer systems for rocket launches. These were for NASA's first flight programs. In 1963, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. This was from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. After graduating, she began working full-time for NASA. She became an aerospace engineer at the Kennedy Space Center.
Working at Kennedy Space Center
In 1963, JoAnn Morgan started her full-time job at Kennedy Space Center. She was the only female engineer there. She remembers being the only woman for a very long time. JoAnn Morgan was the only female engineer in the firing room. This was during the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969.
She once joked that for her first 15 years, her building had no ladies' restroom. She said it was a "big day" when one was finally added.
Becoming a Leader
JoAnn Morgan was chosen for a special program called Sloan Fellows. This program helped prepare her for a management job. She went to Stanford University and earned a Masters of Science degree in 1977. Two years later, she was promoted. She became the Chief of the Computer Services Division.
In her final years at the space center, Morgan was the director of External Relations and Business Development. For a short time in 2002, she was also the acting deputy director of KSC. JoAnn Morgan retired in August 2003. She had worked for NASA for forty-five years.
Awards and Later Life
President Bill Clinton honored JoAnn Morgan as a Meritorious Executive. This happened in both 1995 and 1998. In 1995, she was also added to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
During her career in human space flight, JoAnn Morgan received many awards. She earned an achievement award for her work on Apollo Launch Complex 39. She also received four exceptional service medals. Plus, she got two outstanding leadership medals. She received an Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1991 and again in 2001.
Other awards include:
- The Society of Women Engineer's National "Upward Mobility Award."
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers' "J. Tal Webb Award" in 1994.
- The "Distinguished Service Award" in 1996.
- The "Achievement Award for Management Leadership" in 1998.
- The "Debus Award" from the National Space Club in 1998.
- The "1998 Presidential Distinguished Rank Award."
JoAnn Morgan is a member of several important groups. These include AIAA, the National Space Club, and Tau Beta Pi. She was also appointed as a Trustee for Florida state universities twice, in 2001 and 2003.
See also
In Spanish: JoAnn Hardin Morgan para niños
