Ms. Carpenter earned a BAE in 1972 and an MSAE in 1978, both from The Georgia Institute of Technology. She began her career in 1975 at the Lockheed-Georgia Aircraft Company (now Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems), where she held positions in the structures and operations analysis organizations.  Following completion of Lockheed’s general management development program, she supervised system engineers engaged in developing designs for new transport and combat aircraft.  Ms. Carpenter joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990 as a manager for mission analysis and systems engineering in the Exploration Programs Office.  Additional assignments with NASA include Chief of Staff for the International Space Station Headquarters Office, manager of advanced development for robotic systems, and manager of system engineering for the Assured Crew Return Vehicle project.  Ms. Carpenter currently serves as Deputy Manager of the Exploration Office at the Johnson Space Center.  The Exploration Office is responsible for developing strategies and technology investment plans to support human missions to the moon and to Mars. Ms. Carpenter manages the advanced design team, which is responsible for defining conceptual design to support strategic planning.  Ms. Carpenter is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Society of Women Engineers, and the International Council on System Engineering.