We were lucky to catch up with Sharon McDougle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sharon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

Being of service to others is very important to me. I strive to give back, in some shape, form or fashion, as often as possible. Besides it just being the right thing to do, it does my heart good and makes me feel great knowing that I’m helping someone. I volunteer for pretty much any and everything and I hope to inspire others to want to get out and give back. One of my favorite quotes is – “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali

I was honored to recently be named the 2022 Remarkable Woman of the Year by Houston’s CW39 Houston and Nextstar Media Group.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sharon Caples McDougle. I’m a wife, mom, and all-around hardworking, bad mamma jamma! Recently, I became an author with my first children’s book titled Suit Up for Launch with Shay! In my book I tell children all about the orange space suit astronauts wear to launch into space.

I worked with the Space Shuttle Program for 22 years in the Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department working with the orange launch/entry space suits worn by space shuttle astronauts. I was the first Black CEE space suit technician, the first woman and first Black Crew Chief, and the first Black manager of the department. I’m proud to have made history when I suited up Dr. Mae Jemison (the first Black woman to go to space) for her historic mission aboard space shuttle Endeavor. This year is the 30th anniversary of her trip into space and me and my husband’s 30th wedding anniversary!
I’m also an Air Force veteran.

Before working with the Space Shuttle Program I served in the Air Force where I worked as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist suiting up and strapping in SR-71 and U-2 spy plane pilots. I also worked with the hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers.

My brand is “Suit Up with Shay!” I’m available for virtual and in-person readings, interviews, panel discussions, as well as inspirational speaking engagements.

You can purchase my book and book me for your next event on my website www.sharoncaplesmcdougle.com to visit your school, conference, church, bookstore, library, book fair, birthday party, Girl Scout troop, book clubs, etc.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Absolutely! I lost both my parents when I was very young. My Daddy died when I was four years old and my Mama was killed in a car accident when I was seven. I had to grow up pretty quickly and my childhood wasn’t without some trials and tribulations, which began with losing both my parents. Even though I love my hometown, I knew I did not want to live there the rest of my life. I didn’t have money to go to college and didn’t know what I was going to do. I enlisted in the Air Force and left my hometown after graduating high school. I excelled in my Air Force career, but after I separated from the Air Force, I struggled to survive. Then I got a call from my dear friend Regulo Villalobos that changed my life – an opportunity to work with the Space Shuttle Program! I was a space worker for 22 years until the Space Shuttle was retired which forced me into an early retirement.

I made it through the loss of my parents and less than idea home-life situation to making history with our nation’s Space Shuttle Program.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Yes. This is a continuation of the answer from my journey that illustrates my resilience. All I’d known my entire adult life was working with pressure suits, from the Air Force to the Space Program. After the retirement of the space shuttle I was left wondering – what am I going to do? Pivot, of course!!! I pivoted to work as a Safety Professional for a logistics/transportation company as a contractor in the oil and gas industry.

The next pivot was becoming an author. My dear friend NatashaLee asked me what some of my dreams were. I shared with her that I wanted to write a children’s book and she connected me with a children’s book author who helped me along the way to becoming an author. My book was published October 2021 and I’m continuing to build my brand. In addition to my book I have travel mugs, masks, and I’m working on a Shay plush toy!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sharoncaplesmcdougle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealshaymac/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SharonMcDougleHiddenFigure/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcdougle-237465bb/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcdougle_sharon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g5rjNOPjeM6XRffCTusgw
• Other: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Caples_McDougle https://linktr.ee/SharonMcDougle https://m.facebook.com/SuitUpForLaunch/

Image Credits
MsDig Photography