{
  "id": 3524736,
  "title": "Contractor to Civil Servant: NASA Welcomes Jeret Howard",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/contractor-to-civil-servant-nasa-welcomes-jeret-howard-3524736",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-26T13:32:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA",
    "slug": "nasa",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/stennis/contractor-to-civil-servant-jeret-howard/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jeret Howard, a logistics management specialist at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, reflects on his journey from U.S. Army combat medic to civil servant. Raised in Kiln, Mississippi, Howard's dedication to national service has led him to return to NASA’s largest rocket propulsion test site. Having worked as a contractor for over 15 years, transitioning to a civil service role represents a full circle moment for Howard. As a logistics management specialist, his responsibilities include securing essential hardware and components for propulsion testing, ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, and actively supporting testing across multiple areas, including Blue Origin’s testing at NASA Stennis. With a strong connection to his family, Howard aims to inspire his teenage son, who dreams of becoming a NASA engineer. The Howards, who are excited about upcoming Artemis missions, exemplify the shared passion for space exploration.",
  "summary": "At 17, Jeret Howard raised his right hand to serve his country as a United States Army combat medic in Iraq. This past summer, he raised his right hand again at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Hired as a civil servant under the agency’s workforce directive to restore core competencies by […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}