Robbie Hood, a NASA atmospheric scientist and hurricane hunter at the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) in Huntsville, Ala., is one of 12 NASA women who recently earned the '2002 Women of Color' distinction. Sponsored by Career Communications Group, Inc. in Baltimore, the awards recognize contributions made by minority women in government and defense. The NSSTC is a partnership with the Marshall Center, Alabama universities and federal agencies.

Robbie Hood, a NASA atmospheric scientist and hurricane hunter at the National Space Science and Technology Center in Huntsville, Ala., was one of 12 NASA women honored recently for achievements in government and defense. 

Presented at the second annual Women of Color Government and Technology Awards conference July 18-19 in Washington, D.C., the awards recognize contributions made by minority women in these traditionally male-dominated fields. 

The event, sponsored by Career Communications Group, Inc. in Baltimore, highlights success stories in an effort to reconfirm commitment to equality and motivate other women to higher levels in the workplace.

One-eighth Cherokee, Hood is a direct descendant of John Ross, the first elected chief of the Cherokee Nation.  Ross, who held the office for nearly 40 years, is famous for leading the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears — their forced relocation from the Southeastern United States to present-day Oklahoma in 1838-1839.

“I was honored to receive this recognition,” Hood said.  “By focusing on positive contributions made by people with diverse backgrounds, it may help inspire the next generation of female scientists and engineers.”

Based at the National Space Science and Technology Center, Hood is an employee of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.  She joined the Marshall Center in 1987 after working as a meteorologist and university researcher.  Since then, she has participated in several NASA studies that seek a better understanding of our weather.

Most recently, she served as lead mission scientist in NASA’s fourth Convection And Moisture Experiment (CAMEX) study — a mission that united researchers from 10 universities, five NASA centers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration toward the common goal of improving hurricane prediction.

Hood has an associate’s degree in physics from Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a master’s degree in physical meteorology from Florida State University in Tallahassee.  She is married to Michael Goodman – a fellow NASA Marshall atmospheric scientist.

FMI: http://www.msfc.nasa.gov