STEM
Space Chica
Debbie Ramos Trainor
Retired NASA Space Flight Training Manager
DTrainorSpeaks
Author of:
Tortillas to Astronauts: An Unexpected Journey
Bio
Background
Debbie grew up in Pasadena, Texas as the only daughter of Mexican American parents. Growing up she never imagined she would be able to go to college much less earn three degrees. She started working at NASA/JSC as a secretary while going to school to get her degrees. Despite family life (she has two daughters) and the uncertainty of what was ahead, she persevered and worked her way up to an International Space Flight Training Manager position.
She is currently an active member of the NASA Alumni League serving as the chair of the Education Committee.
She played volleyball in junior high and continues to play volleyball with the USA Volleyball association. She also enjoys photography and scrapbooking.
30 years of Federal Service
1985-2014/NASA - Johnson Space Center
2007-2014 : Training Lead to Astronaut Candidate Working Group
2001-2013 : Training Specialist of the Astronaut Office
1999-2000 : Training Manager for Expedition 1
of the International Space Station
1998-1999 : NASA Training Coordinator, Star City, Russia
1993-1998 : Space Flight Training Instructor
1989-1993 : Computer Assistant
1985-1989 : Secretary
1984-1989 - Texas Air National Guard, Staff Sergeant
Debbie worked at the NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) for 29 years. She was a proud member of the Mission Operations team for over 20 years. Her space flight training experience started when she taught astronauts and mission controllers how to use the computer system for the International Space Station. She held various training positions including a one year tour as the NASA training coordinator in Star City, Russia and the Training Manager for the first crew to fly on the International Space Station. Her last position with NASA was training manager for the Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Working Group which is responsible for developing and conducting training for new astronaut candidates. The last ASCAN working group she led was for the ASCAN class of 2013. She was the ASCAN training manager for the 4 astronauts who flew the historic 10-day crewed lunar flyby Artemis II moon mission since Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen are from the 2009 ASCAN class and Victor Glover and Christina Koch are from the 2013 ASCAN class.
Education
Masters of Business Administration (1997) and
Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics (1993)
from University of Houston - Clear Lake
Associate of Arts in Computer Science (1992)
from San Jacinto College, Houston, Texas
Public Speaker
As a member of the NASA JSC Speakers Bureau and Hispanic Employee Resources Group, Debbie has represented NASA at many community and educational outreach events across the U.S. She has participated in NASA presentations in New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, Phoenix, Louisiana and all throughout Texas.
As a member of the elite Mission Operations Directorate at NASA for over 20 years, Debbie has been asked to speak to companies such as AIG and Comcast regarding teamwork and motivation.
She has also presented educational and motivational speeches to students of all ages.