NASA Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Russ DeLoach recently presented two “Yes, If” coins to Johnson Space Center’s Chief of Aviation Safety Trent Kingery and Fire Protection Engineer Tyler Champagne for their commitment to NASA’s Safety Culture.

DeLoach presented these coins while visiting Johnson for the SMA Directors Meeting in September.

Trent Kingery

Trent Kingery received the “Yes, If” award for his dedication to safety and leadership of the Aircraft Operations Human Factors Board at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas.

In addition to serving as the Chief of Aviation Safety for the Flight Operations Directorate at Johnson, Kingery is a supervisory research pilot and flight training instructor and serves on the Board of Directors of Flight Operations. Kingery is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major of 24 years and has more than 4,300 flight hours in over 20 high-performance jets and corporate-type aircraft.

After completing the NASA Human Factors Analysis and Classifications System (NASAHFACS) training and certification course, Kingery actively encouraged his colleagues from several work areas — including Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and Safety — to also complete the course and pursue NASAHFACS certification. This training effort preceded the formation of a highly qualified and diverse Aircraft Operations Human Factors Board in May 2023, which Kingery leads.

The board conducts regular mishap and close call reviews, focusing on NASAHFACS, to help identify, mitigate and track anomaly trends. Since its inception, the board has reviewed nearly 70 mishaps and close calls. For Type C and D mishaps and high-visibility close calls, Kingery ensures at least six committee members are present, emphasizing the importance of collective expertise. When an investigation report is about 95% complete, the board incorporates the results of its reviews into the investigation report and into the NASA Mishap Information System (NMIS) to populate Human Factors metrics agencywide.

“Trent's commitment to his work and colleagues, combined with his ‘Yes, If’ mentality, showcase his ability to drive significant positive change within the organization,” said Isabel Hernandez, Human Factors Pathways intern and NASAHFACS training director who nominated Kingery for this award.

“Trent truly embodies the values represented by the ‘Yes, If’ award,” Hernandez said. “His commitment to safety demonstrates that one person can indeed make a remarkable difference.”

Tyler Champagne

Tyler Champagne received the “Yes, If” award for his commitment to safety and proactive approach to mitigating and addressing Fire Protection risks at Johnson.

Champagne is the Authority Having Jurisdiction for Fire Prevention and Protection at Johnson and White Sands Test Facility. He is responsible for ensuring Fire Protection systems and processes comply with regulatory and local standards. He also identifies risks to Johnson’s critical, complex and aging facilities. Champagne has been an integral part of Johnson’s Safety and Test Operations Division since January 2005 as a contractor Fire Protection engineer, until he joined NASA in April 2020 as a civil servant.

In response to findings documented after a 2022 Institutional, Facility, Operational Safety Audit conducted by the NASA Safety Center, Champagne led the efforts to document the requirements and implementation history required to facilitate SMA and center directorate endorsement of the Fire Protection Specialist (FPS) program at Johnson.

Champagne manages the FPS program, ensuring Fire Protection engineers and specialists receive the proper training at Johnson. The FPS program provides supplemental coverage for the Houston Fire Department and the City of Houston and ensures compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and agency standards. It also ensures key fire and medical protections for center visitors, employees, property and assets.

“Tyler’s efforts and commitment to safety are paramount and exemplify the ‘Yes, If’ approach that all safety professionals should represent at NASA,” said Robert Southers, associate chief for the Safety and Test Operations Division of SMA at Johnson, who nominated Champagne for the award.