Pamela Garcia

Launch Engineer - SpaceX

Pamela Garcia is a Launch Engineer at SpaceX.  She is the first female certified Launch Controller at SpaceX, one of two operators to launch Falcon Heavy, and is responsible for autonomous pad turnaround operations.  Pam has been the primary controller for over 50 launches for the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets; a role in which she is solely responsible for all ground system functions and vehicle interactions during and after launch countdown.  As a member of the Launch Operations Development team, she focuses on achieving SpaceX's long-term goal of creating the world's first fully auotmated launch system.

A Colombia native, Pam relocated to Miami with her family at a young age.  Her early passion for engineering led her to start a SECME chapter (Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) at her middle school and went on to graduate 4th in her engineering academy at Coral Reef Senior High.  She graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Physics.