John W. Jurgensen

I have been at the Johnson Space Center for more than 30 years. I have been fortunate enough to have had several different interesting assignments during that time: working in the Mission Control Center for the first half of the Apollo missions, testing the software that guides the Space Shuttle during entry and landing, managing the operations of large mainframe computers, managing computer security for JSC, and managing voice telecommunications for JSC. Currently, I am in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (this means information technology or computers, not public affairs type information), where I recently served as JSC's Y2K Project Manager.

I have a Bachelors degree from Indiana University and a Masters degree from the University of Houston, both in mathematics. Helping humans go into space has been a life long dream; I have never wanted or applied for any other full time "job". I have, however, been able to stay active in mathematics, by teaching in the evenings for 14 years and by being one of three authors of two editions of Houghton Mifflin's high school Geometry textbook.

Fellow Mentor Amy Ross and I are active with Venture Scout Crew 442, and I was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 442 for several years before moving to Venture Scouting. During this time I led several weeklong backpacking trips to spectacularly beautiful places, including Big Bend National Park and the Grand Canyon.

I am looking forward to learning with you.
John

Last Updated: 06/20/01