Joseph (Joe) Irons, director of Facilities Management for the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility, and Roger Harris, Space Launch Systems (SLS) IV&V project manager, received “Yes, If” coins for their instrumental roles in support of IV&V’s mission. Russ DeLoach, NASA’s chief of Safety and Mission Assurance, presented the awards at a recent Office of Safety and Mission Assurance town hall meeting.

Joseph Irons

David Sheldon presents the "Yes, If" award to Joe Irons

Irons’ “Yes, If” approach spans back to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He proactively ensured all personnel and spaces had additional cleaning and disinfecting products, following the best practices and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NASA. He also worked with NASA to purchase and install new, higher-rated filters for improved indoor air quality and better overall health for all employees.

Irons’ forward thinking and agility have continued to benefit IV&V. For example, he facilitated the design process and safe buildout of a secure room to support NASA Classified National Security Information work. This unique project required both flexibility and an open mind to meet the build requirements.

Recently, Irons supported the future-of-work efforts to right-size IV&V facility infrastructure utility requirements, as well as identify and implement creative solutions to bring employees back into the office full-time with limited office space.

“Joe always looks at a problem with an open mind and works collaboratively with the NASA team to provide real-life, cost-effective and safe solutions,” said David Sheldon, IV&V program support office lead.

Irons continues to provide essential support as NASA transitions from a facilities contract model to a new lease model for facility maintenance and support services.

“Joe is fully engaged and has leaned in to help ensure the new model has NASA’s best interest in mind,” Sheldon said. “He continually exhibits a spirit of ingenuity, creativity and commitment to everyone’s safety in all that he does, and I believe he exceeds the requirements to receive such an award.”

Roger Harris

Roger Harris

Harris received the “Yes, If” award for his leadership abilities demonstrated on the SLS and Autonomous Flight Termination Unit (AFTU) IV&V projects.

Throughout the SLS project, Harris ensured clear communication with the team and stakeholders while fostering a collaborative environment, which enabled the project to run smoothly and safely.

Similarly, on the AFTU project, Roger demonstrated exceptional leadership by facilitating the development and utilization of the AFTU test environment.

“Roger’s ‘Yes, If’ approach to challenges is always solution-oriented and focused on finding ways to overcome obstacles, rather than simply identifying problems,” said Justin Morris, lead of IV&V’s Jon McBride Software Testing and Research (JSTAR) group.

Harris’ "Yes, If" attitude is instrumental in driving progress on both projects and has provided new opportunities for the IV&V Program. His leadership and coordination of IV&V planning cycles, as well as his forward-thinking approach in planning tasks for IV&V projects, have streamlined processes and improved overall efficiency.

“Roger's leadership, proactive planning and positive attitude significantly contribute to the success of both the SLS and AFTU IV&V efforts,” Morris said. “He is very deserving of the ‘Yes, If’ recognition coin.”