Journeyman-level Quality Assurance Specialist, NASA
Cristine Andes waitressed for eight years before she decided it was time to make a change in her life for financial stability and self-fulfillment. She started her career with NASA as a Management Support Assistant co-op. After a few years of working full time with NASA she went back to school for an associate degree in Aerospace Technology.
After working through many barriers and roadblocks at work, she accepted a position as a Quality Assurance Specialist (QAS). After four years of hard work and dedication, she became a journeyman-level QAS.
Despite having to constantly prove herself as both a woman in a predominately male job, and as a qualified QAS coming from a secretarial position, she has earned the respect from management and is often sought out to support upcoming new projects across multiple NASA Centers. She has also completed a personal goal of graduating Summa Cumm Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health.