Astronaut

In Houston, Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr. is an accomplished physician, NASA astronaut, and businessman who currently serves as president of the Harris Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Houston.

Despite humble beginnings in a broken home, Dr. Harris pursued his dream of being a physician and later a NASA astronaut. He not only flew multiple space shuttle missions, he is actually the first African-American to walk in space. When he retired from NASA, he had logged more than 438 hours in space and had traveled more than 7.2 million miles.

Since his retirement, Dr. Harris has become a successful businessman and is currently on the board of directors for some of the world’s leading technology companies. He founded the Harris Foundation in 1998, with a mission to invest in community-based initiatives to support programs that empower individuals, particularly minorities and the economically disadvantaged, to recognize their potential.

The Harris Foundation sponsors programs such as the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps, which promote the study of science and technology to disadvantaged students entering middle school. The foundation also co-sponsors the Dare to Dream program with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Office. Dare to Dream targets at-risk youth and explores crime prevention, as well as encourages the pursuit of careers in science and technology. The FBI Houston Field Office has partnered with Dare to Dream as part of its Adopt-A-School mission, and it regularly provides special agent guest speakers to meet with the Dare to Dream students at many Houston schools.

Using his own story, Dr. Harris inspires children in Houston to reach for the stars.

NASA Announces New Deputy Chief Information Officer for IT Security

Katherine Trinidad

Headquarters, Washington                                         

WASHINGTON -- NASA's Chief Information Officer (CIO) Linda Cureton has announced the appointment of Valarie Burks as the deputy CIO for Information Technology Security.

Burks served as the associate CIO for Cyber and Privacy Policy and Oversight at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2009. She managed Federal Information Security Management Act reporting, governance, risk and crisis management, strategic oversight and compliance.

"Valarie has a significant background and experience in IT management," Cureton said. "That combined with her in-depth understanding of communications and holistic approach to IT security make her an invaluable asset to our efforts."

Burks developed and launched the USDA Certification and Accreditation Center of Excellence to improve and mitigate system risks, reduce costs and improve the quality and standards for systems. Burks has developed, managed, and maintained IT infrastructure and equipment including network, desktop, video, web-hosting and telecommunications operations. She handled IT management responsibilities while working for the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Commerce and Government Accountability Office.

Burks received her B.S. in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also received her M.S. in computer systems management from the University of Maryland, University College.

For information about NASA's Office of the Chief Information Officer, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ocio.

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Former Astronaut to Be Awarded Prestigious FBI Director’s 2010 Community Leadership Award

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Houston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Richard C. Powers announced Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., astronaut and president of The Harris Foundation, will be awarded the prestigious FBI Director’s 2010 Community Leadership Award. SAC Powers made the announcement and recognized Dr. Harris in front of Houston area students participating in the “Dare to Dream” program, sponsored by The Harris Foundation, at the James D. Burrus Elementary School earlier today.

Established in 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award is presented each year by FBI field offices to individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact within their local community through their achievements in crime prevention, drug deterrence, or other programs which promote public safety and well-being.

Dr. Harris is being awarded the honor for his lifelong achievements, as well as his work as founder and president of The Harris Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports math/science education and crime prevention programs for America’s youth.

Despite humble beginnings, the young Bernard Harris pursued his dream of being a physician, and later a NASA astronaut. Dr. Harris graduated from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio in 1974. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston Clear Lake and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council fellowship in endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center, and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Harris worked at NASA for 10 years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and disuse osteoporosis. As payload commander on Space Shuttle Discovery STS-63 in 1995, he served on the first flight of the joint Russian-American space program, becoming the first African-American to walk in space. A veteran astronaut for over 19 years, he has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space.

Dr. Harris founded The Harris Foundation in 1998. The mission of the Houston non-profit organization is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The Harris Foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and others who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. One such program is the “Dare to Dream” program. Dare to Dream is an elementary school-based program which targets at-risk children and encourages crime prevention and the exploration of careers in science and technology. The Houston office of the FBI is a Dare to Dream partner. As part of Dare to Dream’s adopt-a-school mission, the FBI regularly provides special agent guest speakers to meet with and interact with at-risk students at many Houston area schools. In keeping with The Harris Foundation’s mission of promoting science and technology, before today’s ceremony the Houston FBI’s Evidence Response Team provided a hands-on forensic science workshop to over 100 Dare to Dream students from five Houston area schools.

“Dr. Harris and the Harris Foundation have inspired many of Houston’s at-risk young people to study hard, stay out of trouble, and follow their dreams,” said SAC Powers. “The Houston office of the FBI is proud to partner with Dr. Harris and his foundation in their proactive approach to reducing crime and encouraging lifelong success. What better example for our children can we provide than a man who has pursued his dreams and accomplished what most of us only dream about. I am proud to announce Dr. Harris as this year’s recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. When he receives his award from FBI Director Mueller in front of nominees from all over the United States, it will serve as an indicator to everyone present that Houston, Texas is the home of successful, generous, innovative citizens who care greatly about their community.”

Dr. Harris will travel to Washington, D.C. to receive the award, along with other recipients from around the nation, from FBI Director Robert Mueller in a ceremony at FBI Headquarters on March 25, 2011.