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Meet: David Hamilton
Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) Dive Specialist
NASA Johnson Space Center
Who I Am and What I Do
I work for NASA at the Sonny Carter Training Facility
in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. My job title is NBL Dive Specialist. I am also
the lead instructor on the NBL robotics team. We teach the astronauts how
to fly the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) and the Space Station
Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the water. We also teach them how to
get ready for their Extra Vehicular Activities, or what we call EVAs. I
enjoy all aspects of my job, but what I like best is working with the robotics
and interacting with the astronauts.
Career Journey
I was in management for 15 years in the maintenance department
for car dealerships and pipe fabrication shops. I have a heavy mechanical
background.
Personal
I live in Texas City, on two acres, kind of in the country.
My wife and I built our new home in 1996. I've been married for seven years
to my wife Mary Ann. She is a nurse at Mainland Center Hospital, in the
newborn nursery. I have three dogs and one cat. The dogs are two Rottweilers,
Sabrina and Skylker, and a Labrador Retrievers, Sam. Our cat's name is Sophie.
My wife and I enjoy playing outside with the dogs, and working in our yard.
I like to play sports - basketball, football, snow
skiing - and ride motorcycles. I like to challenge myself. Two years ago
I participated in the Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile canoe race non-stop
from San Marcos to Seadrift, Texas. And we won our class, in the race!
I grew up in Santa Fe, Texas, and lived there for
24 years until I moved to Denver, Colorado. I moved back here after five
years, in 1990.
Where I grew up helped me realize my potential to
set my goals high. I came to NASA when I was six years old on a field
trip and always wanted to work at NASA, but never thought my dream would
come true. Look at me now -- I have the perfect job, working with the
astronauts and scuba diving, too! Once I make up my mind to do something
it receives all my dedication and attention.
Growing Up
We lived in Santa Fe on four acres in the country. We
had all kind of animals - dogs, cats, horses, pigs, ducks, cows, etc. When
I was in school I wanted to be a pilot, but my family did not have the money
for me to go to college. A few of my favorite books were Old Yeller and
Savage Sam. I even have a dog, named Sam :)
Future Plans and Goals
Some day I would like to fly on the space shuttle to
the space station.
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