Science propels Twin Lakes youth to NASA job

 

As a child, Orson John would watch the stars travel across the sky above his Twin Lakes, N.M., home.

As he viewed the tiny dots of light, he dreamed about becoming an astronaut and working for NASA. Unfortunately, John wears glasses so that ended his astronaut ambition but he still fulfilled the dream of working for NASA.

John, a 2005 graduate of Tohatchi High School, has been working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., since January. The 22-year-old is a reliability engineer trainee in the Safety and Mission Assurance program.

"It's a huge organization but at least I'm a small part of it," he said in a telephone interview from his office in Maryland.

John is training under NASA's educational employment program, which allows students to combine their academic studies with on-the-job training and experience.

His job with NASA ends in August, when he will return to New Mexico Tech in Socorro, where is he a senior aiming to graduate in December with a physics degree.

"I use my physics background to look at different optics of satellite lasers," John said about working his job, which involves satellite projects that have not yet launched. He declined to further describe his work, calling it "sensitive."

John learned early in his life that education could take you places, and he got involved in science early too. He remembers participating in science fairs while in elementary school. In high school, he participated in the Upward Bound program at San Diego State University.

"Those were fun times," he said about Upward Bound. "It makes you see the world."

In high school, John knew he wanted a career in science but was not sure which branch. When Tohatchi High finally offered a physics class, John took it during his last semester and was hooked.

"I saw that physics was the foundation of all fundamental science," he said.

John also found inspiration in the work of Navajo nuclear physicist Fred Begay of Los Alamos National Laboratory, whom he met in high school. Begay's work involves the development of alternative energy sources using laser, electron and ion beams to heat thermonuclear plasmas.

"After that, I made up my mind to study physics," John said.

While at New Mexico Tech, he has been a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society since 2007.

"I believe it's a very good program," he said about AISES and its focus on assisting Native youth to get into engineering, science and other technology fields.

Lorie Liebrock has been the AISES advisor since arriving at New Mexico Tech in 2002. She said there were 18 students regularly attending meetings last semester.

"These students not only excel academically, but with some encouragement become very strong leaders," she said. "In Orson's case that seems to come out naturally."

John has served as vice president of his AISES chapter, and through it was able to attend the group's conferences in Phoenix, Anaheim, Calif. and Portland, Ore.

It was through an AISES career fair that John met NASA's director of Safety and Mission Assurance, who encouraged him to apply for a summer internship. John applied for the 10-week internship, which he completed in 2009.

But John had no idea that his internship would lead to his dream job.

"He (the director) actually called my house and asked me to work with them," John said. "If this is a chance to work with NASA, I'm going to do it."

He is the youngest of five children, and is the son of Marilyn and Norman John, the Navajo Nation Council delegate for Twin Lakes. He is Tódík'ozhí (Salt Water Clan), born for Tódích'íi'nii (Bitter Water Clan). His maternal grandfather is Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People Clan) and paternal grandfather is Tl'ógí (Weaver-Zia Clan).

"My mom raised me on a low income," he noted. "If this is a way I can pay her back by saying, 'My son works for NASA,' I'm going to do that."

John has not been home since moving to Maryland but he plans to visit before his classes resume in August.

As for life after graduation, he is thinking about pursuing a master's degree in geophysics or aerospace engineering.

"I've learned quite a bit while working," he said. "One thing I've learned is to complete the mission. I feel like this carries on into my life - not to give up but pursue what I want to do."

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