Sharon Caples McDougle

Suit Up with Shay, LLC/ Author / Speaker/ Veteran

Featured on Good Morning America and at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Sharon Caples McDougle is regarded as a “modern day hidden figure”. She joined the NASA family working in the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department. She began her career as a CEE Suit Technician and was responsible for processing the orange launch/entry suit assemblies worn by astronauts. McDougle was one of only two women technicians and the only African American technician when she began her career. Everyone knows Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to go to space - but many don't know that an African American woman, with her own list of firsts, "suited her up". McDougle was Jemison's suit tech for her historic mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. McDougle was promoted to the position of Crew Chief making her the first woman and first African American CEE Crew Chief. In her new position she was responsible for leading a team of technicians to suit up astronaut crews. McDougle had the honor of leading the first and only all-woman suit tech crew. She would go on to become the only woman and only African American promoted to the position of Manager of the CEE department. She led the team responsible for suiting up and strapping the astronauts into the space shuttle for launch and recovering the crew upon landing. She held this position until the Space Shuttle Program ended. She continued working to help close-out the program, ending an illustrious 22-year career with our nation’s space program. During her career she was recognized with the Astronaut “Silver Snoopy” Award, Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award, USA Employee of the Month Teamwork Award, USA Employee of the Month Community Service Award, and the coveted Women of Color in Flight Award from Dr. Mae Jemison recognizing her as the first and only African American woman suit tech/crew chief in her field. McDougle is also an Air Force veteran. She was an Aerospace Physiology Specialist responsible for training, suiting up, and strapping-in the SR-71 and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft pilots for high altitude operations. She also worked with the hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers and received her training at the School of Aerospace Medicine. She joined the Air Force after graduating high school and separated in 1990 with an honorable discharge. She was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, and Airman of the Month. McDougle has been featured in various publications, television and radio shows, and podcasts. She shares her inspirational story as keynote speaker as well as participating as a panelist. She is an avid volunteer in her community and works with several organizations. She serves as Vice President and Executive Administrator for Unveiled Aspirations – a women’s empowerment organization. Other volunteer activities include reading to children, being a mentor, cleaning community gardens, working in food pantries, feeding the homeless, and working in thrift stores, just to name a few. McDougle is a mentor with the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship; TWST4Girls (Together We Stand Tall 4 Girls) – TWST4Girls; Space Center Houston’s Girl’s STEM Pathway program; and she is a “Big” with the Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring program. She is also a published author, her children’s book “Suit Up for Launch with Shay!” tells you all about the orange spacesuit astronauts wear to blast off into space. She also shares her story “Does God Love Me?” in the anthology Fearless Women Rock Volume III. She received The President’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award for her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. McDougle is documented in the Smithsonian Institution’s Online Virtual Archives. She was selected by the MLK Grande Parade committee as a Special Honoree for the 2022 MLK Grande Parade in Houston, Texas where she was recognized for her contributions in community service and exemplifying the principles, values, and vision that best reflects the doctrines of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. McDougle has been recognized as a true leader in her home state of Mississippi where she was honored in the inaugural class of Mississippi’s Top 25 Most Influential African Americans. McDougle also received the Living Legend Lifetime Achievement award from the Moss Point Visionary Circle, and she was recognized by Who’s Who of Mississippi Women at their inaugural gala with the Dr. Helen Barnes Award. She has been recognized as a Mississippi Trailblazer at the Mississippi Trailblazers Awards Ceremony and Black-Tie Gala where she received two awards: The Calvin “Buck” Buchanan “FIRST” Award named for Mississippi’s first United States Attorney for the Northern District - honoring a Mississippian who holds the distinction of being the “first” in their profession and The Dr. Cindy Ayers “Legacy” Award honoring a Trailblazer whose singular work and contributions will leave a legacy long after their life has ended. The “That Girl” organization honored McDougle at the “Make Your Mark Symposium” where she received The Spirit of Detroit Award for exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedication to improving the quality of life and The Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan recognized her with the Leadership and Commitment of Excellence Award. She is also a That Girl Brand Ambassador. McDougle was made an Honorary Citizen of Lake Charles by the Mayor; she was recognized by Allstate and Tom Joyner for her story of strength and community service; and she was chosen as CW39’s Remarkable Woman of Houston 2022. She is also a proud member of the Red Hat Society’s Divas with Hattitude Chapter. She is happily married to her husband Maronald, and they have two adult children, Dominique, and Corbin, and a beautiful grandson, Landon. She and her husband are natives of Moss Point, MS, and have been Houston, TX area residents for over 30 years.