The name: Edward Victor Gonzales
Title: Program Manager for People, Culture, and Equality
organization: Heliophysics Division, Science and Exploration Directorate (Code 670)
What do you do and what is most exciting about your role at Goddard?
As the Program Manager of People, Culture and Equity Officer for Heliophysics, I am responsible for the well-being, comfort and safety of people. What is most interesting to me is the vast diversity in Godard.
How did you get into Goddard?
I went to college late in life, but never graduated. After high school, I started at Mount San Antonio Community College in Walnut, California, but had to work full time when my then-girlfriend got pregnant. I started in the mailroom of an international law firm, gradually working my way up to director of support staff. I worked there for 15 years, often staying overnight. I couldn’t go to night school and there were no online learning options back then.
In 2001, Warren Christopher, the law firm’s managing partner and later secretary of state in the Clinton administration, wrote me a recommendation. Helped him land a job as a business administrator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Apollo 13 inspired me to work for NASA. After getting hired at NASA JPL, I took some classes at Pasadena Community College.
In 2009, I was detailed to work in the Office of STEM Education at NASA Headquarters. After two years, I returned to JPL to work on minority service programs.
In 2014, I returned to headquarters for a fellowship to work in Minority University Research Educational Programs. After a year and a half, I returned to JPL to manage underserved, underrepresented undergraduate programs.
In 2018, I came to Goddard to do outreach for NASA Goddard’s Heliophysics Division. Three years later, I became the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Officer for Heliophysics and now, my current role as People, Culture, and Equity Officer.
As the People, Culture and Equity Officer, what are your responsibilities?
First, I observe. There are many cues and things in the world that others, including leadership, can sometimes miss. We need to be aware of these things. We need to always be respectful and kind.
When something happens in the world that affects a colleague, I make sure to check in with them daily. Broadly, when something happens in the world that affects a particular culture, I reach out to that particular group.
I also go to underserved, underrepresented national conferences around the country. At the American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference, I spoke about employment opportunities at NASA. It was important for these students to see someone who looked like them. I am half Native American and half Latino. [a gender-neutral term for those with Latin American heritage].
In August 2024, the NASA administrator appointed you to the NASA Advisory Council. What are your duties there?
The Council has five committees: Aeronautics, Human Exploration, Science, STEM, and Technology. I am a member of the Science Committee. My plan is to discuss the cultural role we all play at NASA.
What skills do you use to communicate with underserved, underrepresented communities?
I check the temperature of the water and the lead. I am very active with the employees. I have an open door policy.
Also, I think I’m a lot more culturally aware overall. At conferences, I try to dress, speak, and act appropriately for the students attending.
Most importantly, my cell phone can never be seen. When communicating with someone, I generally observe the other person’s body language a lot, which helps me understand the other person better. Sometimes body language, rather than words, will tell you what you need to hear. My wife calls me a “people whisperer.”
What does cultural awareness mean to you?
Know your audience. I don’t think about how I work: I focus on how the next generation will work. I try to speak their language. And listen, listening is very important.
Usually, when I go to a national conference, the students will resume from me. But at the Native American National Conference, elders can approach me with a student and a resume. It is important to first address the senior and ask permission to speak to the student. Also, you would say that the student can bring the knowledge learned at Goddard back to their reservation rather than the student leaving their reservation. I also always acknowledge the tribe I am speaking to.
Whenever we send a team to a national conference, we send people who are culturally familiar with the culture of that particular group.
I also teach cultural awareness at Goddard.
What are your hopes for Godard’s DEIA programs?
I want to continue to build a pipeline of future employees that is more diverse, full of great ideas and solutions, and a safe and welcoming environment for them.
What advice do you give to students?
NASA’s path is not linear. You have to find your way.
You mentioned that DEIA is primarily about kindness. How do you define mercy? How do you teach it?
Kindness in my humble opinion is about grace, honesty and understanding. and a desire to learn about others and their cultures. Agreeing to disagree and having polite conversations, building that understanding.
Education starts at home, bad behavior, lack of understanding and racism are taught. We must do better and lead by example. Treating others the way we want to be treated.
Who are your mentors?
One is Christopher Gardner, whose life was featured in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” I recently brought Christopher Gardner to Goddard to give a keynote speech and he stayed with me. I met him because I saw his movie, read his book, and contacted him.
I teach students this lesson: Everyone is interested when you take the time to learn what is important to them. If there is someone you want to meet, try to network with them. All you have to do is ask. But first, research them so you can talk to them about yourself and their work. If they say no, you can move on to the next person.
Gardner told me to focus on my plan A because plan B is no good. If you know you have a plan B, you won’t put everything you have into plan A. Move forward like there’s nothing you can fall back on.
Another mentor is José Hernández, the first Spanish astronaut. I proposed to my wife while living in her condo. He told me to find my “yes” and never give up. He applied 13 times to the astronaut program before finally being selected.
What are the next big things on your bucket list?
I want to see the Northern Lights and continue the journey. I just lost 70 pounds and want to lose 20 more. I gave up meat for about six months and now eat chicken and turkey, but no red meat anymore. I also exercise and feel great now.
I want to continue attending concerts around the country.
by the Elizabeth M. Jarrell
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Md.
Conversations with Goddard Q&A is a collection of profiles that highlight the breadth and depth of the talented and diverse workforce at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Dialogues have been published on average twice a month since May 2011. Read previous editions on it Goddard’s “Our People” web page.