![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/jsc2022e072025.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>She joined NASA as a civil servant in 2018, but Staggs\u2019 career in the federal government stretches back to her college days. She completed an accounting co-op with the Department of Defense as a student at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, and secured a full-time accounting position with the agency following her graduation. She transitioned to a business financial manager position supporting U.S. Marine Corps projects while earning an MBA from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. \u201cThat position is where I started to dabble in contracting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Staggs moved to Texas in 2014 to be closer to her boyfriend \u2013 now husband \u2013 who was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen. She was hired as a contract compliance manager for a small, Killeen-based business that specialized in government contracts, officially launching her career in contracting. When Staggs\u2019 husband retired from the Army, the couple decided to move to Houston because they loved to watch the Houston Astros play ball. Staggs continued working for the contracting company from her new home but missed meeting new people and collaborating with colleagues in person.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI applied for a contract specialist job with NASA to get back into the office, and the rest is history,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Her current role at Johnson involves managing the administrative contract functions for the 13 base contracts that support CLPS, which are valued at $2.6 billion. She is also the contracting officer for Firefly\u2019s Blue Ghost Mission-3 and helps to train and develop up-and-coming contract specialists. \u201cI love to see the development each contract specialist has over their career,\u201d she said. \u201cMy first Pathways intern is now working full-time for NASA as a contract specialist, and they are working to become a limited warrant contracting officer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Her training experience provides valuable perspective on new team members. \u201cEveryone starts at the bottom, not knowing what they don\u2019t know,\u201d she said. \u201cWe all have a beginning, and we need to remember that as we welcome new employees.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Staggs said that navigating change has at times been difficult in her career, but she strives to remain flexible and open to adjusting work and life to meet the needs of the mission. \u201cMy time at NASA has helped develop my leadership skills through confidence in myself and my team,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n