Name: Keith Kohler
Topic: News chief
Formal job classification: Public affairs experts
Organization: Office of Communications, Wallops Flight Facility, Goddard Space Flight Center (Code 130.4)
What do you do and what is the most interesting about your role in Godard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?
As news chief, I manage media relations with local, regional, national and international media. I also write news release and web features, and I conduct interviews to bring exciting activities to the public in NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the east coast of Virginia.
What is your educational background?
I have a BA in MBA from Journalism from Murray State University in Kentki and Belmarine University in Kentki.
How did you come to work for NASA?
In 1978, when I was in Murray, I joined the Public Affairs Office (now Communication Office) of NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, as a type of internship. In 1984, I joined the wallops as the manager of the visitor center, while I was working on my master. In 1987, I returned to Belmining the whole time to complete the final semester for my master. Later that year, after graduation, I returned to the Wallops Visitor Center. In 1990, I became the lead of Wallops Public Affairs Office, where I remained a major part of my career.
Why did you spend your entire career in Wallops of Communications?
When I first came to Wallops, I fell in love with the region. I grew up in the city and I love this rural area. I enjoy working with people and scientists around the world who come here to do research projects. Wallops projects usually run from six months to about two years, so it is very rapid with very fast activity in many different areas.
I also met my wife Lisa, who was native to the region, while in Wallops.
What are some of the most interesting projects you have worked?
The Northrop Grumman’s Antarations program, which is launched from Wallops, is interesting because they have importance in the launch difference on the community and to supply the supply to the international space station due to positive impact. Wallops began in 1945 as a launch facility. Since arriving in Wallops in 1984, I have seen that it has become a world -class launch facility for very large rockets.
Whatever project I have worked is unique, whether it is a sounding rocket, scientific balloon or aircraft mission. There are many and great people.
I have enjoyed the most during my career. Our people want to share what they are doing with the public.
What do you want to be your legacy?
I would like to be remembered as someone with integrity who was able to bring the message to the public what we do in wallops and as someone who supported our educational programs and programs on hands Through support of support and support of internships.
What advice will you advise to someone starting in science communication?
You should have a passion for learning and being curious.
We pass new findings to the public and everything is always changing. You should enjoy communicating with scientists and engineers and passing that information to the public, thus they can understand the technical complications of science and engineering.
What does a good science communicator make?
What a good science communicator makes is the ability to hear. You need to listen closely to the mission support staff, such as scientists, engineers or technicians. Then you should be able to take the information and place it in a format that the public can understand. You should also be able to listen to the public and understand what they are asking and interested in listening.
What was your favorite campaign?
It is difficult to say. With more than 41 years supporting NASA, missions and region’s campaigns have been several. Field expeditions took me to the air over the Middle-Atlantic states and Puerto Rico in Alaska, New Mexico, California, Hawaii.
How the walls have changed in the last few years?
In some ways, the walls have been the same, but it has also changed. Wallops always have a can-do attitude. Mission personnel know the goals of the project and work towards those goals. Historically, the work has focused on sub -organized projects using sounding rockets, scientific balloons and science aircraft.
Recently, there has been an increase in working with small satellites – project management, development, testing and tracking. In addition, Wallops have greatly expanded their support of commercial launch activities. In 1995, Virginia located the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops, which has increased the launch of orbital rockets. I was part of the core group involved in the birth of the spaceport.
What do you enjoy the most about staying near Wallops?
This area is cool, slow. The beaches are good. We are enough for a day’s visit to Washington, DC, but we can be surrounded by nature.
After retiring at the end of this year, what are your plans?
I want to travel nationally and internationally with my wife Lisa. I like vegetable gardening very much. I also want to spend time with my grandson. I can teach some part -time. I expect volunteers to work, but have not yet decided what or where.
What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes some in just six words.
Integrity, loyal, patient, curious, care, reliable.
Elizabeth M. By jerlel
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.
Conversation with Godard NASA’s Goddard Space is a collection of Q&A profiles that highlight and depth of diverse workforce of the flight center. The conversations have been published twice a month since May 2011. Read previous versions Goddard’s “our people” webpage,
