Jennifer Lacey: Leading USGS in Space
Detailed Description
For this native South Dakotan, a love for math and a college trip to EROS in Sioux Falls, SD led to overseeing USGS's Landsat operations including the upcoming 2020 launch of Landsat 9. Read Jennifer's story and other #womeninscience stories at https://bit.ly/2D1RHk5
Details
Date Taken:
Length: 00:01:43
Location Taken: SD, US
Transcript
Hi, I'm Jen Lacey. I'm the Observing
Systems Branch Chief here at the USGS
EROS Center and I oversee all of the
satellite mission development launch and
operations providing the Nation, and the
world, with high quality scientific
imagery. The images can be used by
scientists to study a very broad number
of changes to the landscape. Everything
from wildfires to deforestation to
natural hazards, just to name a few, are
utilized worldwide with the Landsat
imagery. As a student I knew I loved math.
I wasn't familiar with what type of
career I could have with a math degree.
That all changed with a field trip to
EROS. I saw the wonderful work taking
place there and realized that my passion
for math could be applied to the various
types of work being done there. I have
been able to turn that into a very
fulfilling career. Probably the proudest
moment of my career was the 2013 launch
of Landsat 8. To sit at the controls and
watch this rocket takeoff and knowing
that you led a team that helped make
that mission a success was extremely
rewarding. There's a huge number of
engineers and scientists needed in the
USGS and elsewhere and I would suggest
that even if you're not sure what field
you ultimately want to end up in that
you just stay focused on an area that
you're passionate about and doors will
open up for you down the road.
Being the mother of teenage daughters I
know how important it is to continue
studies in the areas of science,
technology, engineering, and math because
that way you are prepared to pursue
whatever type of career you want in the
future.