WILLIS JENKINS
Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) Certified, Program & Project Management
A competent leader with extensive knowledge of quality testing, applications and integration experience of
Engineering Programs, Projects & Maintenance. Competency in handling project’s independently with building a
committed team, forecasting practical problems & feasible solutions.
COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:
* Project & Program Management * Budget Analysis * Performance Optimization * Digital Design
* Dignity and Respect * Diversity, Equity and Inclusion * Technical Communications * Launch Vehicle
Management * Electrical Engineering * Integration, Test & Evaluation *Research and Development
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Sr. Program Executive, NASA, HQ 12/2020-8/2003, 2/2002-10/2000 Washington, DC
Senior Heliophysics Explorers Program Executive (PE), responsible for planning and
managing a yearly program budget approximately $1 billion, coordinated NASA’s Science
Mission Directorate (SMD) efforts for process development, implementation,
documentation and content for the Explorers Program and project implementation
• Responded to Explorers Program stakeholders, the Office of Budget Management or Congressional inquiry of programmatic and technical issues or concerns. Maintained close contact with NASA field centers management, industry representatives, academia, international partners and headquarters SMD management in an effort to build collations and partnerships/teams for mission, project and program management success.
• Managed missions from concept, design, development, integration and test through launch and on-orbit check.
• Prepared Planning, Program, Budget and Execution (PPBE) guidelines and Congressional
justifications for projects within the Heliophysics and Astrophysics Explorers Programs.
• Utilized over forty years of experience to managed and launched the first NASA mission
to fly 5 spacecrafts on a single Delta rocket.
• Provided the formula for the Mary G Ross Commemorative Dollar coin in partnership with
the US Mint. The formula represented the work Mary G Ross, a Native American did to
launch a rocket out of the Earth’s atmosphere with NASA in the 1960’s.
• Acting Deputy Chief of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in the Office of Civil Rights during
a year rotation at the Department of Interior (DOI). Representing DOI during D&I strategy
meetings with all 62 agencies within the Federal Government.
• Developed Diversity and Inclusion policy for the NASA at the agency level
• Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) and Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)
Projects. Responsible for planning the definition and development of the MMS and
STEREO projects which included cost, schedules, assignment of technical task, and all
technical and management interfaces for research instruments, from government, industry and
international partners.
• Applied system architecture principles to develop, coordinate and manage requirements for
placing four identical satellites and two identical satellites in space respectively
• Worked closely with industry representatives, academia, field centers, international partners to
build relationships to implement this strategic mission.
• Responsible for ensuring each instrument schedule was compatible with the mission master
schedule as well setting the guidelines for the development of the MMS and STEREO
instruments from formulation through test and integration
• Managed the activities of several instrument managers by establishing work assignments or
job specialization, and assuring timely accomplishment of work. Served as the instrument
integrator with the instrument teams, NASA Headquarters and senior management.
Instrument Systems Manager, NASA, GSFC 02/2002-08/2003 Greenbelt, MD
Observatory/Electrical Sys/Launch Site Manager-NASA, GSFC
01/1995-10/2000 Greenbelt, MD.
Served as the acting Observatory manager,
managing and staffing NASA's West Coast residence office at the Lockheed Martin
facility in Sunnyvale, California for the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites
(POES) Program. Provided budgetary inputs to the project for engineering support
in the development and integration of the observatory. Conducted observatory
subsystem meetings with subsystem leads. Supervised the activities of 10
subsystem leads supporting the spacecraft activities. Provided technical expertise
in the areas of digital design, harnessing, manufacturing, integration and test,
during technical interface meetings with the spacecraft contractor to resolve issues
that affect the operation of the observatory
• Served as the electrical engineering manager on the Landsat-7 program,
responsible for working with all engineering disciplines. Managed the harness and
coax system (H&CS). Initiated an investigation into the use of back-up power
during an outage at the launch pad and payload processing facility. Assisted
developing requirements for the use of RF and fiber during launch.
Electrical Systems Manager-McDonnell Douglas 1/995-1990 Seabrook, MD
Managed the electrical systems for the Delta II, Scout and Pegasus launch vehicles.
Reviewed designs and test procedures. Interfaced with the spacecraft provider on
the integration of the launch vehicle.
Research, Development and Design 1983-04/1990 Northern VA
Trainer and supervisor
• Project manager, managing the design and test of components and delivery to
customer
• Supervisor of twenty engineers and technicians
• Designed, developed, tested and integrated instruments for military application
• Trained of Air Force personnel on test units
• Developed firmware
SKILLS
Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS
Software: Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, MS Project, Orcad, Basic,
EDUCATION
• H.D Doctor of Humanity and S.L.D. Doctor Sacred Literature, Institute International Seminary 2020
• Federal Executive Institute (FEI) Leadership for a Democratic Society, 2017
• Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 1988
TEACHING/SPEAKING EXPERIENCE
• Volunteer instructor/speaker for group of local elementary, middle school and high school students
interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, 2020-2003
• Dignity and Respect, 2014
• Diversity and Inclusion, 2014
• White House Initiative on HBCUs 2012
• Disney Radio (Kids Concern Show) 3/1/2012 and 11/3/2011
• Keynote Speaker for the Patriots Technology Training Center 1st annual Solar System Competition for
area middle school students, 5/31/2011
• Keynote Guest Lecturer, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Spring 2010
