Catherine Staggs, a dedicated baseball enthusiast, embarked on a unique journey with her family to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums across the United States. This passion for baseball ultimately influenced their decision to settle in the vibrant city of Houston around eight years ago. This choice played a pivotal role in Staggs’ career path, leading her to the esteemed NASA Johnson Space Center. Here, she serves as a contracting officer for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. In her role, she manages contracts with commercial entities responsible for delivering science and technology to the Moon, thereby supporting NASA’s Artemis campaign. This initiative is critical in laying the foundation for a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
Staggs’ journey with NASA began in 2018 when she joined as a civil servant. However, her career in the federal government dates back to her college days. At Clemson University in South Carolina, she undertook an accounting co-op with the Department of Defense. This opportunity transitioned into a full-time accounting role upon her graduation. Her professional journey evolved as she took on the role of business financial manager, supporting U.S. Marine Corps projects while pursuing an MBA from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Reflecting on her experiences, she noted, “That position is where I started to dabble in contracting.”
In 2014, Staggs made a significant move to Texas, motivated by personal reasons. Her boyfriend, now her husband, was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. She accepted a position as a contract compliance manager for a small business in Killeen that specialized in government contracts. This role officially marked the beginning of her career in contracting. After her husband retired from the Army, the couple decided to relocate to Houston, drawn by their shared love for watching the Houston Astros play. Although Staggs continued to work for the contracting company from her new location, she missed the personal interactions and collaborations that come with an office environment.
In pursuit of these interactions, she applied for a contract specialist position with NASA, and as she puts it, “the rest is history.” Her current responsibilities at the Johnson Space Center include overseeing the administrative contract functions for 13 base contracts under CLPS, collectively valued at $2.6 billion. Additionally, she serves as the contracting officer for Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission-3 and contributes to the training and development of emerging contract specialists. Reflecting on this aspect of her role, Staggs shared, “I love to see the development each contract specialist has over their career. My first Pathways intern is now working full-time for NASA as a contract specialist and is on the path to becoming a limited warrant contracting officer.”
Staggs’ experience in training offers her valuable insights into new team members. She acknowledges, “Everyone starts at the bottom, not knowing what they don’t know. We all have a beginning, and we need to remember that as we welcome new employees.” Navigating change has sometimes been challenging for Staggs, but she emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in both professional and personal spheres. “My time at NASA has helped develop my leadership skills through confidence in myself and my team,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, Staggs is excited about mentoring the Artemis Generation and imparting her contracting expertise to new team members. She also eagerly anticipates checking more baseball stadiums off her family’s bucket list this summer.
For readers interested in the technical aspects of Staggs’ work, the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program is a significant component of NASA’s broader Artemis campaign. CLPS contracts facilitate the transportation of scientific instruments, technology demonstrations, and other payloads to the lunar surface by commercial partners. This collaboration with private companies is part of NASA’s strategy to foster innovation and cost-effectiveness in lunar exploration. The Artemis campaign aims to return humans to the Moon, including landing the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface, as well as establishing a sustainable human presence by the end of the decade.
Staggs’ journey demonstrates the diverse pathways that can lead to impactful careers at NASA and highlights the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in achieving professional success. Her story also serves as an inspiring example of how personal passions and professional ambitions can intertwine to shape a fulfilling career. For those inspired by Staggs’ story and interested in exploring career opportunities at NASA, it’s worthwhile to explore their official website for information on various roles and the pathways available to potential candidates.
This narrative of Catherine Staggs not only illuminates her personal and professional journey but also underscores the significance of NASA’s initiatives in the broader context of space exploration and scientific advancement. Her story is a testament to the dynamic interplay between individual aspirations, career development, and the pursuit of groundbreaking endeavors at one of the world’s leading space agencies.
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