I’m Lisa Whalen.  I grew up in Manassas, Virginia.  I attended college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.  I received my Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, with minors in Space Studies and Physics in April 2000.  While attending college, during the summers, I worked as a counselor for the US Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.  I loved being a counselor, and it helped me broadened my knowledge of the space program and helped young adults realize the importance of our space program.  

I currently work in for United Space Alliance in the Motion Control Systems group.  My job includes controlling the International Space Station (ISS) in its orbit by using four Control Moment Gyroscopes.  This is a very important job with the ISS, since it is the most cost effective way of controlling the ISS without having to use any propulsion. 

I am very happy with my job here at NASA-JSC.  I believe that this will help me excel to achieving my dream of becoming an astronaut, which has been my goal since I was a little girl.

My interests include astronomy (I just love looking at the stars and the moon, and every once in awhile catch the ISS racing across the night sky!), photography, and gardening.  In my free time, I love to play with my cat, Murphy, read, and go camping.