Biography

Kellye Pando is a geologist working in the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division on The Aerospace Corporation NSEETS  contract at NASA Johnson Space Center. She currently functions as a project engineer serving as deputy to the OSIRIS-REx curator and assisting with making Bennu samples available for analysis by researchers worldwide. Kellye began her career with ARES in 2008 in the Experimental Petrology Laboratory conducting high-pressure and high-temperature experiments focused on understanding terrestrial planet formation. During that time, she managed the General User Sample Preparation and Analytical Geochemistry Laboratories maintaining various machines including analytical and experimental instruments. After ten years she transitioned into the curation group where she worked as an astromaterials sample processor in the Antarctic Meteorite Processing Laboratory for six years and served as curation task order business lead providing support in maintaining budgets and monthly estimates for the department before moving into her current role.  Kellye has earned a bachelor’s in geology from Sul Ross State University, a master’s in environmental geology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a master’s in management with a specialization in project management through Colorado State University-Global Campus.