While examining a privately-owned sailboat, as a certified Vessel Examiner with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, I realized the importance of profiling the Coast Guard's quality focus. What could it teach us about quality? It turns out, a lot.

Carrying NASA scientific instruments as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander launched on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket at 2:18 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

As an inspector at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) there are opportunities to perform inspections on unique and one-of-a-kind products that make one feel special and proud to be part of such a great team.

This year NASA and Space-X made history. For the very first time, “NASA astronauts have launched from American soil in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station.”

NASA has finalized the contract for the initial crew module of the agency’s Gateway lunar orbiting outpost.

Curiosity and collaboration will get you everywhere. That was the theme of keynote session at the ASNT Annual Conference. NASA’s Adam Steltzner gave an inspiring keynote about his work landing the Curiosity Rover on Mars, and described the importance of being vulnerable and open to doubt.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. It’s a famous line from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” uttered by a more-than-thirsty sailor on a ship bereft of fresh water as he is forced to stare at an ocean of sea water he cannot use to satiate his need. 

While Taoist philosopher Lao Tsu was the first to make the statement, “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know” part of his formal teachings, some form of the wisdom behind this statement has been attributed to such great philosophical minds as Socrates, Buddha, and Jesus.

When you work with organizations like BMW or NASA, quality cannot be left to chance.

"A lovely nook of forest scenery, or a grand rock, like a beautiful woman, depends for much of its attractiveness upon the attendance sense of freedom from whatever is low.” —P.T. Barnum