Sharon Caples McDougle

Sharon Caples McDougle is an American retired spacesuit technician for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, crew chief, and manager of the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment Processing department. She is the first Black woman to serve in these roles.[1]

Sharon Caples McDougle
BornMoss Point Edit this on Wikidata
Employer
  • NASA (1990–2012) Edit this on Wikidata
Awards
Websitehttps://smcdougle2.wixsite.com/sharoncaplesmcdougle Edit this on Wikidata
BranchUnited States Air Force (1982–1990) Edit this on Wikidata

Early life and education

Sharon Caples McDougle was born in Moss Point, Mississippi. In 1982, she joined the US Air Force after graduating from Moss Point High School.[2]

Career

From 1982 to 1990 she worked as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist at Beale Air Force Base in California. She was responsible for training SR-71 and U-2 pilots in hypobaric and hyperbaric operations. McDougle specialized in working with pressure suits. She fitted the suits to individual pilots and suited up the pilots for training flights and missions. Between missions, she inspected and maintained pressure suits and survival equipment. McDougle traveled to England, Greece, Korea, and Japan in support of SR-71 and U-2 operations. During her service, she received numerous awards including the Humanitarian Service Medal and was recognized as Airman of the Month.[3]

Sharon McDougle checking Air Force suit

After leaving the Air Force with an honorable discharge, McDougle transferred her special skills to the US space program. In 1990, she joined the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department of Boeing Aerospace Operations, a contractor for NASA. Her first mission was STS-37.

She suited up Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in NASA's astronaut corps, for STS-47.[3] McDougle led the first all-women team of spacesuit technicians in support of STS-78.[4]

Sharon McDougle and Mae Jemison in KSC Suit Room

McDougle worked with NASA's Launch and Entry Suits. She maintained and repaired spacesuits and dressed astronauts for training events and space missions. She was the first Black person and second woman to work as a spacesuit technician. She was promoted in 1994 to CEE Crew Chief and again in 2004 to Manager of the CEE Department. McDougle retired in 2012 following the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.[3]

Awards and honors

Sharon Caples McDougle received the Silver Snoopy award in 2001.[5]

Mississippi Trailblazers recognized McDougle with its Dr. Cindy Ayers "Legacy" Award and Calvin "Buck" Buchanan "First" Award.[4]

References
  1. "Sharon Caples McDougle is somewhat of a "hidden figure". │U.S. Veterans Magazine". US Veterans and Military Magazine | A US Veterans News Resource. 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  2. "Unsung hero from Moss Point part a historical, iconic moment". The Seattle Times. 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  3. "Sharon Caples McDougle is somewhat of a "hidden figure". │U.S. Veterans Magazine". US Veterans and Military Magazine | A US Veterans News Resource. 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  4. "'Hidden Figure' honored at Miss. Trailblazers ceremony". gulflive. 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  5. "Sharon McDougle, The 'Hidden Figure' Behind the NASA Spacesuit Team". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  • NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project Edited Oral History Transcript Sharon Caples McDougle Interviewed by Jennifer Ross-Nazzal Houston, Texas – 9 July 2010:
  • McDougle's personal website
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