NASA Jobs – What It’s Like To Work For NASA

Space the final frontier as the TV show “Startek” so aptly states. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been around since 1958 and has been going where no man has dared to go and that includes the Moon.

NASA’s vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind. They have been around for more than 50 years and this agency is constantly looking for new ways to explore space, as well as, use what they learn here back on Earth.

This large independent agency employees 17,176 professionals, technical staff, administrative, and other support personnel at 10 regional centers. The largest occupational group ─ engineers in the GS-0800 series ─ employs 9665 as of December 2015 according to FEDSCOPE, the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) data center. They employ 4,222 aerospace engineers in the GS-0861 series, 120 mechanical engineers GS-0830, 805 GS-0855 electronics engineers, and a cross section of other engineering, technical and administrative support staff.  Astronauts are classified under the GS-801 general engineering occupational series and there are 2,985 employed under the GS-0801 series at NASA. Not all GS-0801 positons are astronaut positions.

To get a better perspective about this fascinating agency historian, Brian Odom, who works at Marshall Space Flight Center, located on Redstone Arsenal, AL was interviewed for this article.

Q & A with Brian Odom

How and why did NASA get started?

NASA was started on October 1, 1958 on the order of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. NASA was created to ensure a peaceful, civilian program dedicated to exploring space. The spur for the program was the US participation in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958. During this time, the Soviet launch of the first satellite, Sputnik I and later the US satellite, Explorer I, increased the popular interest in space exploration. NASA grew out of concerns of national security that were characteristic of the Cold War.

What is the history on the Saturn, Apollo and Moon Programs?

The Saturn program (Apollo was the payload for the Saturn Launch Vehicle) developed out of President John F. Kennedy’s goal of “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth” before the end of the decade. The Saturn V Launch Vehicle that was designed to fulfill that goal was 364 feet tall with a booster stage capable of producing 7.5 million pounds of thrust. Marshall Space Flight Center, then under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun, was tasked with overall management of the vehicle. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned spacecraft to land them on Moon. Five more landings would follow from 1969 to the final trip by Apollo 17 in December 1972. These missions served as a demonstration of technological development in the US, a program for scientific exploration of the Moon, and developed a feasible program for living and working in space.

Current NASA Programs to include the International Space Station, Mars and others?

The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a working laboratory in space where research not possible on Earth is performed. Orbiting 240 miles above Earth and travelling at 17,500 miles per hour, the ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000 and serves as a blueprint for the further exploration of space. The ISS is a truly international effort with support from five space agencies representing 16 nations.

Information about Marshall Space Flight Center?

Marshall is home to four National Historic Landmarks including the Redstone Test Stand, Propulsion and Structural Test Facility, Saturn V Dynamic Test Stand, and Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. Constructed by the Army in the early 1950s, the Redstone Test Stand was the first test stand in the United States to accommodate an entire launch vehicle and is the oldest landmark at the Center. The Redstone Test Stand was used for testing the Jupiter-C vehicle that launched our first satellite, Explorer I in 1958 and the Mercury-Redstone launch vehicle that launched the United States’ first astronaut into space.

The NASA Organization

NASA Headquarters, in Washington, provides overall guidance and direction to the agency, under the leadership of the administrator. Ten field centers and a variety of installations conduct the day-to-day work, in laboratories, on air fields, in wind tunnels and in control rooms.

NASA conducts its work in four principal organizations, called mission directorates:

• Aeronautics: manages research focused on meeting global demand for air mobility in ways that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also embracing revolutionary technology from outside aviation.
• Human Exploration and Operations: focuses on International Space Station operations, development of commercial spaceflight capabilities and human exploration beyond Low-Earth orbit.
• Science: explores the Earth, solar system and universe beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.
• Space Technology: rapidly develops, innovates, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies that enable NASA’s future missions while providing economic benefit to the nation.NASA does more than space exploration, they use their technology for other organizations to take advantage. Its mission is “Bringing NASA technology down to Earth”.The job occupations that will be featured in our next articles are all employees that work at Marshall Space Flight Center located on Redstone Arsenal, AL.

Technology Transfer Program

NASA does more than space exploration, they use their technology for other organizations to take advantage. Its mission is “Bringing NASA technology down to Earth”.

This program pursues the widest possible applications of agency technology to benefit US citizens. They partner with industry through the use of licensing agreements, in supporting the economy and create jobs. The Technology Transfer Program website is http://technology.nasa.gov./

The job occupations that will be featured in our next articles are all employees that work at Marshall Space Flight Center located on Redstone Arsenal, AL.

Our next Q&A will be with Christopher Todd Cannon, an Exhibit & Artifacts Manager, GS-1010 located at Marshall Space Flight Center.

Credits

• Angela D. Storey, Public Affairs Officer, Marshall Space Flight Center
• NASA website: www.nasa.gov

Other Career Information

• Employment: http://www.nasa.gov/about/career/index.html
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Have you ever dreamed of forecasting the weather, studying and surveying the geography of our coasts or exploring the oceans, or coral reefs? If so, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the agency for you.  NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce, and was formed in 1970. There are 6,773 NOAA scientists and engineers. NOAA has a total of 12,000 personnel worldwide.

NOAA’s mission is Science, Service, Stewardship. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts. To share that knowledge and information with others and to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

History of NOAA

NOAA’s history dates back over 200 years and it is one of the oldest federal agencies. In 1807 President Thomas Jefferson formed the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (as the Survey of the Coast) to provide nautical charts to the maritime community for safe passage into American ports and along our extensive coastline.  The Weather Bureau was formed in 1870 and one year later the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries was created.

In 1970 to better handle the growing responsibility of predicting changes to both the ocean and atmospheric environments and living marine resources NOAA was formed. Today NOAA is in every state and is considered an international leader on scientific and environmental matters. It is considered America’s environmental intelligence agency.

For more NOAA history visit their site at http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/.

Programs under NOAA

National Status and Trends Program

In 1984 The National Status and Trends Program was started.  It is one of the largest and most comprehensive monitoring programs of costal marine environmental quality in the United States.  The objective of the program is to determine the existing status and the long term trends of the environmental quality of coastal areas throughout the United States.  Additionally, this program measures the levels of toxic chemicals in bottom-feeding fish, mussels and oysters, and sediments.

NOAA Seafood Inspection Program

NOAA oversees fisheries management in the United States.  Under authority in the 1946 Agricultural Marketing Act, the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program provides inspection services for fish, shellfish, and fishery products to the industry.

The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program offers a variety of professional inspection services on a fee-for-service basis which assures compliance with all applicable food regulations.  The program offers sanitation inspection as well as system and process auditing in facilities, on vessels, or other processing establishments in order to be designated as participating establishments.

The National Coastal Zone Management Program

The National Coastal Zone Management Program works with coastal states and territories to addresses coastal issues, that includes climate change.

This program is a voluntary partnership between the federal government and United States coastal and Great Lakes states and territories authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 to address national coastal issues.

National Weather Service

In our next article we be featuring two employees that work for the National Weather Service (NWS).  The NWS was established in 1870. It was originally called the Weather Bureau and was part of the War Department. Twenty years later it became a civilian agency, under the Department of Agriculture, and in 1940 was switched to the Commerce Department.

NWS Mission

Provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.

NWS Vision

A weather-ready nation: society is prepared to respond to weather-dependent events.

NWS Organization

The headquarters of the NWS is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, with regional headquarters located in Kansas City, Missouri; Bohemia, New York; Fort Worth, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Anchorage, Alaska; and Honolulu, Hawaii. The NWS has 5,000 employees in 122 weather forecast offices, 13 river forecast centers, 9 national centers, and other support offices around the country, and provides a national infrastructure to gather and process data worldwide.  Every year, the NWS collects some 76 billion observations and issues approximately 1.5 million forecasts and 50,000 warnings. For more information about the NWS you can view their website at Weather.gov.

The two employees that will be featured in our next article are Mary Beth Gerhardt, meteorologist (GS-1340) and Phillip Manuel, meteorologist (senior forecaster), GS-1340.

Credits

• Maureen O’Leary, NOAA Communications and External Affairs at the National Weather Service.
• Photos from NOAA website: Learn more about our work

Other Career Information

• Employment: http://www.noaa.gov/work-with-us
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

The GS-0701 series covers professional positions that supervise, lead, or perform work in the veterinary medical sciences. The work involves promoting the health and welfare of both animals and the public through diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding of animal diseases; conservation of animal resources; and advancement of veterinary medical knowledge. Learn more about holding a federal veterinarian jobs below.

The federal government employs 2,226 Veterinary Medical Officers. The Department of Agriculture is the largest employer of this group with 1,774 employees. The Department of Health and Human Services employs 34 while the DOI, VA, Army, EPA and the Smithsonian Institute employ small number of this occupational series. There are 23 veterinarians working for the Department of the Interior.

Samantha Gibbs is a  is a veterinarian with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, Maryland.

The wildlife veterinarian has many different services that they must perform. These services may include, but are not limited to:

• Wildlife capture efforts.
• Animal capture and handling, applicable chemical immobilization, and tagging-collaring-surgical procedures necessary for assessing individual animal movement, environmental conditions.
• Training of professional wildlife biologists in wildlife capture, handling, and/or animal processing;
• Development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for safe wildlife capture, handling, tagging, and sampling in collaboration with other federal agencies and/or other international, state, local, or private organizations.
• Successful application for DEA Controlled Substances registration.

Q and A with Samantha Gibbs

Why did you become a Wildlife Veterinarian?

Growing up, I had a strong interest in wildlife ecology and conservation. After high school I went to work for a wildlife veterinarian and began to understand the strong role veterinarians play in forwarding wildlife conservation goals.

What are the most challenging parts of your job?

Probably the most challenging part of the job is turning research science into management actions that will improve wildlife health at a population scale. More often than not, there isn’t much we can do once a disease has begun to spread in wildlife.

What is the most unique experience you have had as a Wildlife Veterinarian?

I was once capturing wild ducks for avian influenza testing in northern Australia and had to ensure that when I released the birds after being swabbed they didn’t head towards the river because there was a line of crocodiles waiting at the water’s edge for a tasty treat!

What are the rarest and most common species of animals that you have come in contact with?

I have worked with hundreds of bird species, some quite rare and many very common. I currently serve as back-up veterinarian for the whooping cranes that are being bred and raised at Patuxent. I have also had the opportunity to work with bison, rhinos, Florida panthers, lions, manatees, feral pigs, and frogs!

What are some of the duties you have to perform as a Wildlife Veterinarian?

My work varies from field activities to research to policy. I provide field support such as surgical implantation of satellite transmitters in ducks, taking fat biopsies from bison, and performing post-mortems on animals that are a part of die-off events. I am involved in the development and implementation of research projects that investigate wildlife diseases. And I provide technical assistance for policy decisions that involve wildlife health issues.

Would you recommend Wildlife Veterinarian as a good career path?

The career of wildlife veterinarian has been an amazing journey for me. It involves many years of studying, sometimes extreme field conditions, sometimes long hours at a computer, and lots of travelling, but for me it is certainly been well worth it for the crazy events, kind people, and fascinating wildlife I have experienced along the way.

Basic Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
• Salary for a GS 12/13 ranges from $71,012.00 to $109,781.00 / Per Year.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA).
• Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).

Additional Requirements

GS-12: To qualify for a GS-12 is listed below:

• Master’s degree in an area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
• Successful completion of two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position.
• Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-12 grade level include:

• Implementing health monitoring and treatment programs for large herds of production livestock (cattle, sheep, and swine).
• Recording and analyzing health records in order to implement appropriate prevention and treatment programs.
• Working with animal care personnel and herd managers to appropriately train and educate on new practices relating to animal care.

GS-13: To qualify for the GS-13 are listed below:

• Ph.D. degree in an area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
• Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position.

Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-13 grade level include:

• Interpreting and implementing the Federation of Animal Science Societies Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching in a research environment; or
• Experience following or implementing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) policies and procedures as they relate to care of animals in research; or
• Experience as or working with an IACUC Attending Veterinarian to implement appropriate animal care in a research environment.

Medical Requirements: Individuals must be physically and mentally able to safely and efficiently perform the full range of duties of the position without creating hazards to themselves or others.

Veterinary Medical Officers who inspect or supervise inspection activities in privately owned slaughter houses and processing plants must meet specific medical standards

Job Requirements

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of field anesthesia techniques, ensures compliance with Animal Welfare Act requirements and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) approved protocols.
• Strictly adheres to Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) rules and regulations for the use and storage of controlled substances.
• Assists in the development of the annual budget and work plans.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with research and management biologists from natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, and universities who have expertise specific to wildlife capture and anesthesia as well as wildlife diseases, their epidemiology, and management, to exchange information and develop techniques and methods related to population and habitat management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Reviews scientific proposals and reports to evaluate hypotheses, research design, appropriateness of methods, probability of success, and overall importance to wildlife disease management or science.
• Analyzes disease report summaries and determines the impact on resources, develops action plans as required, coordinates actions with the Refuges and other Service regions as warranted.
• Fields questions concerning the report and response from various sources, representatives from other Federal and State agencies, and the media.
• Analyzes the impact of wildlife morbidity and mortality events on populations, and assists wildlife biologists and/or managers as needed to evaluate impacts to harvest regulations or other population goals.
• Prepares reports and articles for publication in scientific literature and for presentation at professional meetings.
• Provides oral and written presentations on significant wildlife health and disease issues ranging from highly technical professional audiences, to congressional and agency staffs, to news media, and the general public.
• Mastery of, and skill in applying, advanced concepts, principles, practices, and methodology of veterinary medicine.
• Professional knowledge of, and ability to apply, wildlife management concepts, principles, practices, including field techniques and methodologies, to manage an active complex, regional, wildlife management program.
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, the principles, practices, techniques, and concepts of population ecology and wildlife biology as related to the management of free ranging wildlife populations.
• Familiarity with population-limiting factors based on habitat nutritional quality, climate change, predation and competition, or other demographic factors sufficient to incorporate into wildlife management plans.
• Ability to synthesize existing information, apply new scientific findings, developments, and advances to meet innovative, complex, controversial, long-term wildlife health and management needs that are national and international in scope.
• Ability to provide creativity and critical-thinking skills necessary to apply veterinary advances in approaches and new scientific developments to local resource issues, and determine cause-and-effect relationships between species, their habitats, and disease.

In our next article we will continue with the FWS and our Question and Answerwill be with Keith Toomey, Special Agent in Charge (GS-1811).

Credits

• Anita Noguera, Manager, BPHC Marketing Communications, Falls Church, VA
• Photos were provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service

Other Career Information

• Human Resources site at http://www.fws.gov/humancapital/.
• Employment: http://www.doi.gov/public/findajob.cfm
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

One of the important functions of the Federal Government is to communicate with the public concerning the programs administered and activities engaged in by various Federal agencies. This communication is provided by the public affairs specialist (GS-1035) and serves the dual purpose of: 1) informing the broad spectrum of individuals and groups affected by agency programs of the benefits, services, or requirements of such programs; and 2) assessing the degree of understanding or interest the public has in these programs and activities. The public affairs specialist salary ranges from $90,823.00 to $118,069.00 / Per Year.

The federal government employs 5,519 public affairs specialists. The Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force are the largest employers of this group with 2,052 civilian employees. The Department of the Interior employs 312 followed by the VA with 297. Positions are available in all cabinet level and large federal agencies.

Valerie Fellows is a public affairs specialist working at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters Ecological Services Program in Falls Church, VA.

Q&A with Valerie Fellows

Why did you decide to become a Public Affairs Specialist?

My background was in wildlife management, biology and toxicology, so I always dreamed I would one day work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But I never really “loved” the notion of daily field work: schlepping through remote areas day after day, fighting off mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds, taking Dramamine just to be able to get through the day on the boat, etc. I loved it every now and then, but not every day. Our field biologists are really amazing for loving that type of hard labor!

Plus, I’m an extrovert and I’m pretty good at communicating!

Combine those factors and it came very naturally for me to support the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by communicating to the media and the public about the work we do and why it’s important for the public. I am able to combine my strengths for communication with my passion for wildlife, and I absolutely love my job.

What is your greatest challenge as a Public Affairs Specialist?

Staying relevant with the public. Our field offices are involved in managing really complex environmental issues that can’t be fixed overnight, and trying to tell the story of what they are doing and making it relevant to the issues the American public cares about is challenging. Science and technology is advancing at an extremely fast pace, but if we don’t deliver our messages about why people should care and keep it pertinent to the issues important to them, then eventually science could lose support.

What is most interesting about being a Public Affairs Specialist?

No two days are the same. Every day is a different topic or issue and it’s always something new to learn about.

What is the most unique aspect about being a Public Affairs Specialist?

I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with some monumental announcements for my agency – including the recovery of the bald eagle and its removal from the Endangered Species Act – which was 5 decades in the making and the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s birth. To have just a sliver of the public engagement on those pieces of conservation history is extremely fulfilling, and I was so grateful for it.

Would you recommend the Public Affairs Specialist job occupation?

Yes! I’ve loved my jobs in this series at all levels. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them, but I love the excitement and results that our agency gets from connecting to the public on conservation issues!

Public Affairs Specialist Duties

In addition to the general public, Federal agencies communicate with many specialized segments of the population, e.g., farmers, taxpayers, military personnel, educators, State and local government officials, manufacturers, and so on. Federal agencies communicate with the general public and these other pertinent publics in a variety of ways, for many different purposes, and in countless organizational settings across the country, and around the world.

Public Affairs includes positions responsible for administering, supervising, or performing work involved in establishing and maintaining mutual communication between Federal agencies and the general public. They also communicate with various other pertinent entities including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences.

Positions in this series advise agency management on policy formulation and the potential public reaction to proposed policy, and identify and carry out the public communication requirements inherent in disseminating policy decisions. The work involves identifying communication needs and developing informational materials that inform appropriate publics of the agency’s policies, programs, services and activities, and plan, execute, and evaluate the effectiveness of information and communication programs in furthering agency goals. Work in the series requires skills in written and oral communication, analysis, and interpersonal relations.

Positions in the Public Affairs Series are primarily concerned with advising management on the formulation and articulation of agency policy and designing, executing, and evaluating the information programs that communicate agency policies, programs, and actions to various pertinent publics.

Public affairs positions work in and contribute to a variety of functional programs. The term functional program refers to the basic objectives of a Federal agency and its operations and activities in achieving them. A functional program may include the entire mission of an agency or any one of many programs administered by the department or agency. Positions in this series require a practical understanding and knowledge of functional programs to facilitate communication between an agency and its publics on program-related problems, activities, or issues. Much of this program knowledge is obtained from specialists in the functional program areas or through review of agency developed material, interviewing program specialists, or reading professional and trade publications.

Job Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
• Identifying internal and external target audiences for various issues, programs and activities and independently developing the full suite of communication tools and products to reach those audiences.
• Preparing and/or overseeing the development of news releases, feature articles, publications, speeches for program and management officials, fact sheets, briefing papers, radio and television scripts and other public informational.
• Advising on personal appearances and interviews, sets up news conferences in support of a public affairs plan or directed to specific audiences.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with representative of appropriate media and national organizations or public interest groups, as well as counterparts in other Federal, State or local government agencies.
• Determining the form, extent and timing of media information programs which will maximize the education of information to the public.Conducting complex and exhaustive research and assist in providing comprehensive data to media representatives.Skill in making oral presentations; analyzing the effectiveness of crisis communication plans. Maintaining a network of subject matter experts for use as quality information sources.
• Skill in setting up and conducting impromptu news conferences and briefings
• Experience managing established social media campaigns and utilizing a diverse array of social media platforms to communicate information about agency, programs, policies, initiatives and other relevant information to the public.

In our next article we will continue with the FWS and our Question and Answer with Samantha Gibbs, a Wildlife Veterinarian (GS-0486).

Credits

• Anita Noguera, Manager, BPHC Marketing Communications, Falls Church, VA
• Photos were provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service
• Public Affairs Specialist

Other Career Information

• Human Resources site at http://www.fws.gov/humancapital/.
• Employment: http://www.doi.gov/public/findajob.cfm
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

In part one of this series we introduced the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to include its history and their prominent programs. This article features the historian occupation (GS-0170) and its unique role within the FWS.

This series includes positions the duties of which are to advise on, administer, supervise, or perform research or other work in the field of history when such work requires a professional knowledge of established methods and techniques of historical research in the collection, evaluation, analysis, or presentation of historical facts.

The federal government employs 765 historians of which 30 work overseas. The Department of the Air Force is the largest employer with 197 civilians followed by the Department of the Interior with 171 and the Department of the Army employs 158. All but two cabinet level agencies employ workers in this group including a few large independent agencies.

Historians in the Federal Government are engaged in one or more of the following major areas:

• Planning and conducting special historical studies relating to current problems for use by agency officials and others in developing or modifying policies and programs.
• Planning and conducting continuing or long-range historical studies to record the policies, programs, and operations of their particular agencies.
• Planning and preparing scholarly narrative or documentary histories for publication.
• Planning and conducting historical studies in connection with the establishment, conservation, restoration, reconstruction, and interpretation to the public of sites of major significance in the military, political, economic, and cultural history of the United States.

Regardless of the area of endeavor involved, historian positions at full performance levels typically include responsibility for project planning and research and presentation functions

Q&A with Mark Madison

Mark Madison is an historian, (GS-0170) for the FWS and works at the National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV.

Why did you want to become a historian?

My father was a historian so I was genetically predisposed. History was my favorite reading material as a child and adult. I actually started as a biologist but got lured back to history through the history of science.

What are the top three most interesting aspects of your job?

1. We get new historical objects almost every day we just got a 5200-pound printing press.
2. I have just started social media with a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. It is new and keeps me humble as to my tech abilities.
3. The FWS has the most interesting history in the federal government ranging from Rachel Carson to Red Wolves.

What is the most interesting historical find you ever came across?

A little mammal and we have a taxidermy black-footed that was rediscovered in 1981 after the species had been declared extinct in 1979. That little ferret helped save a species.

Would you recommend the historian occupation as a good career path?

Any subject you are passionate about is a good career path. I was passionate about history and conservation so being a historian for the FWS was a great choice.

Job Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in History; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history.
• Professional experience that reflects knowledge of history concepts and techniques and available sources.
• Methods and techniques of historical research in the collection, evaluation, analysis, and presentation of historical facts.
• Research and write historical materials, and conducting special studies and creating other historical products such as oral histories.
• Perform research, analysis, evaluates and produces written historical reports about origins, or evolution.
• Prepare analytical studies of complex program issues, administrative summaries.
• Provide training publications to employees and the public with a general understanding of the history of an agency and its activities.
• Plan and execute a historical research program that documents of an agency’s history.
• Provides guidance and advice to regional offices, divisions, and field stations on completing historical research, studies, and oral histories involving an agency’s history.
• Plans, reviews, and evaluates projects initiated by other offices.
• Knowledge of requirements and procedures required to initiate, and monitor contracts for historical research and studies.

In part 3 we will meet Valerie Fellows a public affairs specialist, (GS-1035) for the FWS.

Credits

• Anita Noguera, Manager, BPHC Marketing Communications, Falls Church, VA
• Photos were provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service

Other Career Information

• Human Resources site at http://www.fws.gov/humancapital/.
• Employment: http://www.doi.gov/public/findajob.cfm
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

Helpful Career Planning Tools 

Electrical engineers with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) are in the GS-0850 job series. They must know and understand electrical engineering concepts, theories, principles, and practices applicable to the design and efficient operation and maintenance of power plants, pumping plants, electrical systems, transmission systems, and associated USBR equipment.

According to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook there are 306,100 electrical engineers working in America and their average median salary is $89,630 a year or $43.09 per hour. The federal government employs 4,858 electrical engineers of which 67 work overseas. The Department of the Navy and Army are the largest employers with 3,015 civilians followed by the Department of Energy with 533. The Department of Transportation employs 116 in the GS-0850 job series. All cabinet level agencies except for the Department of Education and some large independent agencies employ electrical  engineers.

Electronics engineers working with the federal government develop, research, and often evaluate electronic devices that are used in a number of areas and applications including computing, aviation, manufacturing, and transportation. They work on federal electronic systems and devices such as radar, navigation, communications, satellites, flight systems, sonar and other related  systems.

Part 1 of this series titled Working for the Bureau of Reclamation will familiarize you with this diverse and essential organization.  There are many engineering job opportunities available in the private sector and federal government if you take the time to seek them out. If you are looking for a federal government job seek out job announcements for the GS-0850 job series and apply for all vacancies in your area.  You can explore careers with agencies in your area by conducting informational interviews that can get your foot in the door if handled properly.

Q&A with Alejandro Buitrago

Alejandro Buitrago is an Electrical Engineer (GS-0850), Department of Interior/Bureau of Reclamation/ Power System Analysis & Control Group.

Why did you choose to become an Electrical Engineer?

After 5 years of service in the Navy as an electrician, I discovered a passion for troubleshooting electrical circuits and a need to improve the operation of electrical equipment.

Are there any parts of job that are considered dangerous?

My team collects performance data from generators during operation, which requires extreme caution because of the potential danger. Reclamation’s main concern is safety.

What is the most interesting part of your job as an Electrical Engineer?

Solving difficult problems. There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to correct malfunctioning equipment and knowing that when you leave the facility the units will be performing correctly at their full capability.

What is the most demanding or challenging part of being an Electrical Engineer?

Keeping up with technology. Technology is evolving every day and as a group we need to keep up with technology to guarantee optimal operation of our plants and consequently efficient delivery of power and water to the American people.

Would you recommend the Electrical Engineering career path?

I recommend choosing a career in which you will be happy, and if that is to become an engineer, be aware that it is a challenging and rewarding field.

Electrical Engineer (GS-0850) Job Occupation

Duties

–       Provide electrical engineering expertise on maintenance of electrical equipment and installation of new electrical equipment for the power plants, switchyards, dams and associated facilities

–       Prepare design modifications and specifications to modify, replace, or repair diverse and often complex systems, or components of such systems.

–       Provide electrical engineering expertise in modernizing powerplants, switchyards, dams, or associated facilities.

–       Provide technical support and project engineering support to a wide variety of engineering projects that includes planning, design, and installation.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

–       Must be a U.S. citizen to apply

–       Pay range for a GS-7/11 is from $45,057.00 to $91,255.00 / Per Year

–       Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

–       Combination of education and experience — college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such back

–       Professional registration — Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

–       Written Test– Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

–       Specified academic courses — Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum.

–       Related curriculum — Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Specialized Experience Requirements

In addition to the basic education requirement, you must meet the specialized experience requirement as delineated below:

–       For GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-05 in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as experience with Electrical Engineering theories, principles, and practices working with electrical power, communication, and control drawings. Experience that included industrial systems and electrical work on large facilities.

–       For GS-09: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-07 in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as experience with Electrical Engineering theories, principles, and practices working with electrical power, communication, and control drawings. Experience with the evaluation of alternative plans, assisting with the determination of engineering feasibility of potential plans and features, and assisting with the preparation of designs and cost estimates for electrical systems. Examples of electrical systems may range from communications to industrial systems and electrical transmission facilities.

–       For GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-09 in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as experience with Electrical Engineering theories, principles, and practices applicable to the formulation and evaluation of alternative plans, determination of engineering feasibility of potential plans and features, and preparation of designs and cost estimates for a wide variety of electrical systems. Examples of electrical systems range from communications, to circuit breakers and transformers, and include control and protective sub-systems. Experience in the repair, testing, or modification of electrical equipment and systems typical in most power generation facilities.

–       For GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-11 in the federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as experience with Electrical Engineering theories, principles, and practices applicable to the formulation and evaluation of alternative plans, determination of engineering feasibility of potential plans and features, and preparation of designs and cost estimates for a wide variety of electrical systems. Examples of electrical systems range from communications, to large generators, 500-kV circuit breakers and transformers, and include control and protective sub-systems. Experience in the repair, testing, or modification of electrical equipment and systems typical in most power generation facilities.
The USBR job occupations explored in this series are just the beginning of what great opportunities that await you at this unique agency.

Credits

• Peter Soeth, Public Affairs, Commissioner’s Office, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO
• Matt Mishkind PhD, SPHR,Team Lead for Training, Systems, and Human Capital Strategy, Human Resources Policy and Programs Division Policy and Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO
• Photos were provided by the Bureau of Reclamation

Other Career Information

• Bureau of Reclamation web site
• Job Listings by Occupation
• USA Jobs (OPM)

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