People of Artemis - Doug Parkinson

People of Artemis Campaign showcasing Doug Parkinson The SLS Integration and Mission Operations (LIMO) Lead at Marshall Space Flight Center - Entry for Videographer of the Year 2025 - Production

What is said in the film

My name is Doug Parkinson and I'm the SLS launch integration and Mission Operations lead. My job on SLS is to manage the operations architecture for NASA this program, and specifically provide support in the SLS Engineering Support Center, the SESC. One of the specific things that we do is support launch operations. Three two, one and liftoff of Artemis one. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I lived in Saint Louis for a little while, and then a small town in Tennessee, and I ended up landing here in Huntsville, Alabama, going to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. When I was a young man, I knew I'd be an engineer. My father was an engineer. I had the engineering knack, if you will, for the time. In the late 90s, I was looking at doing computer technologies.

So computer engineering was hot at the time. But when I got to school, I did feel like I was more drawn towards the automotive industry. And I thought that's where I might. I might land. One day.

I did come across an opportunity to work at the Propulsion Research Center. That intrigued me because it was a way, as an undergraduate to put into practical use what I was learning in books. I got my hands dirty, and it was in cutting edge technologies that really inspired me and that led me to NASA. I've been with NASA since 1999, so it's been it's been a bit over 25 years now and it's been quite a ride. In 2012, I transitioned over to the program office, and one of the things that I learned in in the propulsion area, with all of the engine testing and like, is test operations, and in that translated well into my new role as operations lead for stage's element in the SLS program.

I love all aspects of the operations. I like getting my hands dirty. I like seeing the Erector set go together with SLS. We are putting vehicles together on Artemis one. I was the operations lead and I was able to establish the, the operations architecture for SLS, which I hadn't ever done before.

So that was a great new experience for me. And I was right here in the SESC. SLS Engineering Support Center and I supporting and watching on those screens behind me the Artemis one rocket launch. It means a lot to be a part of this Artemis team. I'm surrounded by a wonderful set of engineers that are all around me each and every day.

What a blessing. And the technologies that we are developing, the missions that we have, the dreams that we have, it means a lot to show the next generation. My children, kids that I coach, all of those kids are inspired. I see it every day. They ask me a lot of questions.

They are just inspired by what we're doing and interested in seeing what may come.

Where this page came from

This page was imported from [NASA](https://images.nasa.gov/details/MSFC_SLS_12052025_People of Artemis_Doug Parkinson). NASA material is generally not copyrighted and is in the public domain.

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