Summary

Throughout her distinguished 36-year career at NASA (from 1983 to 2019) and now as a private consultant, Ms. Ann P. Over has made significant contributions to our Nation, the aerospace profession, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). While at NASA, Ann coupled her technical prowess as an Aerospace Engineer with her exceptional management and leadership skills to positively impact many successful spaceflight programs, including: the Cassini mission to Saturn; numerous microgravity combustion experiments on the Space Shuttle; the Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) on the International Space Station (ISS); and the Space Communications and Navigation (SCAN) Testbed on the ISS.

Ann joined AIAA in 1981 as a student at Ohio State University. After graduating from Ohio State in 1983 with a B.S. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, she started at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in the Launch Vehicle Division. There she designed interplanetary and earth orbit trajectories for NASA and Department of Defense missions launching on the Shuttle/Centaur, Atlas/Centaur, and Titan/Centaur vehicles.

Later, Ann became a project manager of teams from 5-200 people and helped enable the success of several fast-paced and technically difficult NASA science and technology flight projects. Her team designed and manufactured the GRC Combustion Module (CM-1 and CM-2). The Combustion Module was the largest Spacelab payload flown (>1 ton) on the Shuttle, doing groundbreaking research by performing the first large scale combustion investigations in microgravity at high pressures. Ann also managed CoNNeCT, a communication technology flight project, launched by Japan to the ISS in 2012, successfully completing its mission in 2019; overcoming tight timelines to integrate and fly new software defined radios and over a million lines of software code.

Ann’s last work at NASA was in the highly successful Artemis/Orion Program, European Service Module (ESM), where she was the Deputy Program Manager working with teams of engineers to refurbish propulsion system components and create a full-scale ESM propulsion testbed.

Ann has been recognized for her work with 23 NASA honor awards including the Outstanding Leadership & Exceptional Service Medals, the Silver Snoopy Award, and 14 Group Achievement Awards, with 6 under her leadership. She has also received 5 external awards including the prestigious American Astronautical Society Space Flight Award for extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of space flight and space exploration, previously given to Apollo astronauts and other space pioneers. The Federal Government also recognized her at a Senior/Expert Level Project Manager for Federal Acquisitions.

A Lifetime Member of AIAA since 2002, Ann has also long been recognized for her outstanding and selfless efforts to give back to the aerospace profession and her community. She has successfully mentored and developed many young project managers who will be the next leaders of future aerospace projects. She has also been a champion for diversity throughout her career and has been extremely influential in the development of female engineers at NASA. She continues support this important mission, currently serving as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Northern Ohio Section of AIAA.

Professional Record

2016 to 2019: NASA GRC, Deputy Chief of the European Service Module (ESM) Integration Office – Responsible for management of the European Service Module as integrated into the Orion Program, working through 4-party agreements with NASA, the European Space Agency, Lockheed Martin, and Airbus Defense and Space. In addition, managed the ESM Propulsion Qualification Module integration and testing at NASA. Also, managed the NASA furnished flight hardware for the ESM including the main propulsion system. Finally, led the OMS-E/TVC and Helium Gas Valve Tiger Teams to resolve technical issues that were driving the Artemis/Orion Program schedule at the time.

2011 to 2016: NASA GRC, Chief of the Space Science Project Office – Responsible for management of the Glenn Space Science projects and tasks that include: Advanced Radioisotope Stirling Generator, In-Space Propulsion Technology, spacecraft technologies, Extreme Environments (Venus), Planetary Science from Balloons, Earth Science instrumentation and regional coordination. These projects encompassed approximately $50M and more than 100 staff members (civil servant and contractors) annually. In the role, Ann managed, led, mentored, and developed more than a dozen high grade Project Managers (PMs).

2009 to 2011: NASA GRC, Project Manager for the Space Communications and Navigation (SCAN) Testbed - Managed a multi-Center team to produce flight and ground systems for SCAN, which was deployed on the ISS via the JAXA H2 launch vehicle. SCAN was a highly successful National Testbed on the ISS that demonstrated new communications and navigation technologies to buy down risk for future missions. SCAN involved flight and flight support efforts from six NASA centers: GRC, GSFC, JPL, JSC, KSC, and MSFC, and three main contractors. Overall, the $100M project involved more than 150 personnel.

2007 to 2009: NASA GRC, Chief of the Advanced Capabilities Project Office - Managed GRC’s largest program to develop technologies, support robotic missions, and buy down risk associated with the Vision for Exploration. Directed the efforts of 15 Project Managers overseeing a portfolio of projects that involved $70M and more than 150 staff. The work involved the specification and procurement of complex systems that included advanced rocket engines and fuel cells.

2004 to 2007: NASA GRC, Chief of the Exploration Systems Research and Technology (ESR&T) Branch including supervisory responsibility for 16 NASA employees and directing the acquisition and development of a $74 million technology program.

1993 to 2004: NASA GRC, Combustion Flight Projects Branch Chief, Project Manager of the Combustion Module-2 (CM-2) and CM-1. Responsible for planning, managing, directing, and executing microgravity combustion science multi-user space flight hardware development and qualification efforts from pre-flight through post-flight activities. Led the Mission Operations Teams for flights on STS-83, STS-94, and STS-107.

1992 to 1993: NASA HQ, One-year detail at NASA Headquarters within Office of Space Science and Applications (Code S), Flight Systems Division responsible for managing 75% of the Shuttle flight manifest inputs for all the Science missions (e.g., Spacelab, Hubble Space Telescope service).

1983 to 1992: NASA GRC, Aerospace Engineer responsible for chairing the Mission Design Panels for Cassini and other NASA interplanetary and DoD projects. [Word count = 499]

Records of Achievement

Throughout her 36 year career with NASA and now in her current role as a consultant, Ann Over has made significant contributions to the US space program and to the aerospace profession. She has demonstrated, and been recognized for, excellence as an aerospace engineer, project leader, project manager, technical manager, and leader. She has participated in AIAA activities throughout her career and is currently serving as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Northern Ohio Section of AIAA.

Early in her career Ann worked as an aerospace engineer performing mission design and analysis for high priority NASA and DOD space missions. She quickly established herself as outstanding performer and team leader, conducting complex trajectory optimization trade studies, developing mass and loads design limits for interplanetary spacecraft, and directing independent verification and validation (IV&V) of the missions by the launch vehicle contractors. She led the trajectory optimization work that was essential to meet all the science requirements for a variety of mission payloads. Within a short time, she was also mentoring younger engineers on how to be most effective in doing space mission design analysis and working in teams to achieve mission objectives. Ann chaired the Mission Design Panel for the Cassini mission to Saturn where she was responsible for managing all aspects of the Titan IV/Centaur Earth-departure phases.

Ann was identified by NASA management as a strong leader who had the technical expertise and management skill necessary to lead NASA spaceflight projects. Mid-career, she was placed in charge of the development and operation of the Combustion Module (CM) - a complex, first-of-its-kind, space experiments facility for the Space Shuttle. The CM was the largest (over 2000 lb) and most complex, safety-critical payload (combustion, high pressure) ever flown on Spacelab. Ann led a mixed civil servant and contractor team (peak 300 people) on flight systems requirements definition, development, testing, and analytical & physical integration in the Spacelab module on the Space Shuttle Columbia. The CM-1 project performed flawlessly in space on the STS-94 mission in July 1997, delivering results that made significant impacts to the field of combustion science. The CM-2 project also worked flawlessly in space, but was lost in the Columbia tragedy (STS-107) in February 2003.

Ann’s excellent people skills, coupled with her strong technical and management leadership skills, made her a great fit to lead complex spaceflight projects. She continued to take on roles of increasing responsibility in terms of the size and scope of was needed. As Project Manager for the SCAN Testbed, she led a multi-Center team to produce flight and ground systems for this testbed that was externally mounted to the ISS. Over its 7 year mission life on-orbit, SCAN successfully demonstrated new communications and navigation technologies for future space missions.

Throughout her career, Ann has delivered excellent technical results while also helping to develop and nurture a new generation of aerospace leaders. In summary, Ms. Ann Over is qualified for, and highly deserving of, the rank of AIAA Associate Fellow.

Educational Background

1983 The Ohio State University - BS in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Cum Laude, with Honors)

1993 NASA Professional Development Program

2008 Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executive Fellows Program

2011 NASA Program and Project Management Leadership Module

2012 Senior/Expert Level for OMB Federal Acquisition Certification Program/Project Management

Honors and Awards

2019 - Space Flight Awareness Human Spaceflight Team Award

2018 - Space Flight Award by American Astronautical Society (AAS)

2018 - The Rudolph Edse Award in Space Engineering by The Ohio State University

2018 – Lead, Silver Achievement Medal Orion Service Module High-Pressure Gas Valve Team

2017 - Group Achievement Award for OMS-E/TVC Project Team (Orion/ESM)

2016 - Group Achievement Award for GRC Test Facility Request System Team

2015 - Group Achievement Award for BOPPS Mission Team for Planetary Science

2015 - Group Achievement Award for Harmful Algal Blooms Airborne Hyperspectral Team

2014 - Group Achievement Award for Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator Team

2013 - Group Achievement Award for Curiosity Education and Outreach Team

2012 - Special Recognition Award for SCaN Testbed Ground Processing in Japan

2012 – Lead, Group Achievement Award for the CoNNeCT Project Team

2012 – NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal

2011 - NASA Distinguished Performance Special Award

2010 – Lead, NASA Group Achievement Award for CoNNeCT

2010 - 100 Ohio Women in Air & Space at the International Women's Air and Space Museum

2010 - Midpark High School Distinguished Hall of Fame

2009 – NASA Distinguished Performance Award

2008 - Group Achievement Award for Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Methane 5500 lbf Ascent Main Engine Technology Development

2007 - Group Achievement Award for Surface Mobility Team

2007 - Cleveland Federal Executive Board Wings of Excellence

2006 - Exceptional Service Medal for Exploration Research Through Space Experiments and Technology Development

2005 – Lead, Group Achievement Award for Glenn STS-107 Data Recovery Team

2004 - Group Achievement Award for NASA Culture Change (Post Columbia accident)

1999 – Lead, Group Achievement Award for the Microgravity Science Lab-1 Project Team (Combustion Module-1)

1998 – Lead, Group Achievement Award for the Lewis Research Center Microgravity Science Lab Mission Team

1997 - Silver Snoopy Award

1997 - Space Flight Honoree

1996 - Group Achievement Award for the Shuttle/Centaur Project Team : Galileo Program

1990 - Group Achievement Award for the Lewis Research Center Atlas/Centaur Team

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Service to AIAA and Other Aerospace-Related Professional Organizations (500 word limit)

1982-1983 – President of the AIAA Student Section, The Ohio State University

1981-Present – AIAA Member

2022-Present – AIAA Northern Ohio Section Council Member, 1st for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

1981-Present – Society of Women Engineers Member (not continuous)

2022-Present – International Women’s Air & Space Museum Member

1990-2019 – Member of NASA’s Speaker’s Bureau with over 200 aerospace talks to various student and adult groups

2000-Present – Mentor (both formal and informal) for multiple engineering interns and young professional engineers

Provided briefings and/or authored papers for NASA publications and AIAA and IAC conferences as follows:

2001 - Combustion Module-2 Preparations Completed for SPACEHAB Mission Including the Addition of a New Major Experiment

2003 - Combustion Module-2 Achieved Scientific Success on Shuttle Mission STS-107

2004 - STS-107 MISSION AFTER THE MISSION: RECOVERYOF DATA FROM THE DEBRIS OF COLUMBIA

2007 - A Successful Infusion Process for Enabling Lunar Exploration Technologies

2012 - DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND PRE-FLIGHT TESTING OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATION, AND NETWORKING RECONFIGURABLE TESTBED (CONNECT) TO INVESTIGATE SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO ARCHITECTURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

2017 - Orion European Service Module (ESM) development, integration and qualification status

Served on special NASA Task Forces over and above regular duties to support engineering issues that reach across the aerospace profession:

1986 – Challenger Investigation – Independent Propulsion Task Force for Agency

2003 – Columbia Investigation – NASA Glenn Culture Change task force

2015 – Co-Lead for Orion OMS-E/TVC Tiger Team