Abraham Lincoln wasn't talking about space exploration when he said, "The best way to predict your future is to create it," but it's an idea that Michael Gazarik keeps foremost in his mind as he goes about his job overseeing NASA's space technology programs. An electrical engineer by training, Gazarik joined NASA after more than 15 years in the private sector developing software for the telecommunications industry and control systems for submarines, among other projects. "A common thread in my career has been a focus on developing systems, software, hardware or both, to solve difficult problems," he said. Before moving to NASA headquarters, Gazarik was deputy director for programs in the engineering directorate at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. He spoke with SpaceNews correspondent Irene Klotz about why NASA wants to beef up investments in technology development and what the agency is looking to accomplish.
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