Katherine (Katie) McKee
(EARLY CAREER PROGRAMS MANAGER)
| Email: | katherine.s.mckee@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.3063 |
| Org Code: | |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 600 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | ASRC FEDERAL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS |
Brief Bio
Katie McKee (she/her) is the Early Career Programs Manager for the Sciences and Exploration Directorate at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), where she manages programs supporting students, interns, postbaccalaureate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers. She has worked at NASA for eight years supporting early-career development, including the past two years in her current leadership role. Katie serves as the Directorate’s liaison for the NASA Postdoctoral Program, the NASA-PEER Post-bac Constellation Mentorship Program, and several internship programs.
Working alongside NASA scientists and leadership, Katie helps develop and coordinate opportunities that foster an engaging environment for early-career researchers to expand their scientific expertise, build professional skills, and receive mentorship as they navigate their career paths. Through this work, she focuses on strengthening career pathways at NASA and empowering the next generation of scientists to contribute to NASA’s mission of scientific discovery and exploration.
Current Projects
NASA-PEER Post-bac Constellation Mentorship Program
In tandem with the NGAPS+ group, provide post-bac researchers with support and community during their time at GSFC and beyond via the constellation mentorship approach.
Positions/Employment
Sciences and Exploration Directorate Early Career Programs Manager
ASRC Federal System Solutions - NASA Goddard - Greenbelt, MD
October 2026 - Present
Manages programs supporting students, interns, postbaccalaureate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers and serves as the Directorate’s liaison for the NASA Postdoctoral Program, the NASA-PEER Post-bac Constellation Mentorship Program, and several internship programs.
Student Program Manager
ASRC Federal System Solutions - NASA Goddard - Greenbelt, MD
October 2026 - Present
Support the Science and Exploration Directorate (SED) in providing engaging and relevant student program support for all students in Code 600.
Career Development Manager
Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) / Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology (CRESST II) - NASA Goddard - Greenbelt, MD
April 2023 - May 2025
Focusing on developing a career development program for early career scientists including postbaccalaureate (post-bac) and post-doctoral researchers hired through the CRESST II cooperative agreement at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Program Coordinator/Associate
Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) / Center for Research Exploration and Space Science and Technology (CRESST II) - NASA Goddard - Greenbelt, MD
2018 - 2023
Supported the CRESST II Cooperative Agreement at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center through general administrative support including onboarding of new employees, organizing events, and communicating with the 175+ CRESST II scientists.
Program Coordinator
Karthik Consulting / National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) - Arlington, VA
2017 - 2018
Supported the Congressionally mandated National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) by facilitating multi-sector partnerships to address federal ocean science and technology priorities through the NOPP Program Office.
Education
M.S., Environmental Science and Policy | George Mason University (2016)
B.A., Biology and Music Minor | Hollins University (2009)
Professional Societies
American Astronomical Society (AAS)
Member
2024 - Present
Awards
2024 Sciences and Exploration Directorate Award | Excellence in Mentoring
2024 Astrophysics Science Division | Peer Award
2024 NASA GSFC Special Act Award
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Other
Graduate Admissions and Serving the Rising Post-Bac Population: A Case Study of the Inaugural Year of NASA Goddard's First Post-Bac Mentorship Program, NASA-PEER
January 15, 2025
Oral presentation given during the American Astronomical Society's 2025 Winter Meeting.