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In recognition of African-American History
Month, NASA salutes the contributions of African-Americans

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to the cause of space exploration.

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\h
My name is Nate Boclair III.

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I have been working for NASA Marshall Space
Flight Center.

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\hI started in 1977 as a co-op and currently
today I am manager of the Space Systems Operations

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Branch within the Mission Operations Laboratory
of the Engineering Directorate.

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I remember being a very small boy and watching
on TV the astronauts walk on the moon on a

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small black and white TV.

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\hI remember asking my father if they are
really on the moon and he said yes they are

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actually on the moon.

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When I entered college I decided that I wanted
to go into a technical field which was computer

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science and mathematics.

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\hSomething magically happened for me while
I was in college which was the cooperative

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education program.

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Initially, I was reluctant because I thought
it would delay my education so basically I

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did enter the co-op program and that’s how
I first entered my foot into NASA.

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The biggest influence in my life would be
my parents.

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\hBoth of my parents are educators.

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Some of the values they instilled in me would
be a strong Christian faith, they taught me

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the importance of education, having a strong
educational background foundation.

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\hAlso they taught me the importance of working
well with other people.

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I think it’s very important to have a personal
strategic plan where basically you set your