NASA Ames Research Center

Why I joined the Kepler Team

Not many people can say they work on a team tasked with searching for Earth-size planets. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work on the Kepler mission, with such a diverse and talented group, thrilled to discover other worlds that could be like our own.

Background

Prior to beginning his federal service at Ames Research Center, Justin completed a degree in Management Information Systems at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Following Ames, Justin worked at Kennedy Space Center and Department of Defense at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, CA. Justin eventually came full circle and returned to Ames to become the Contracting Officer for Kepler. In 2008, Justin was selected for the Ames Leslie A. Kaufhardt Acquisition Peer Award, recognizing his achievements made, in part, as Contracting Officer of the Kepler Mission. In his spare time, Justin enjoys mountain biking, mountaineering, surfing, snowboarding, traveling and playing on the Ames Kepler-based “Space Cadets” softball team.
 
Kepler Job Description

As the Contracting Officer for Kepler, Justin is tasked with negotiation, award and administration of the contracts Ames has with Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (BATC) and Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in support of the Kepler mission. Given the uniqueness and complexity of Kepler, there are many project changes; Justin works with the Kepler project technical team and contractor(s) to assure these changes are captured contractually and in the best value for the Government and taxpayer. Justin maintains procurement clarity and guidance for the Kepler project under unique and oftentimes lack of precedent situations.