Get to Know: Matthew Gonzales
Technical Professional – Systems Engineering
Government Solutions U.S. – Science & Space
Maryland, United States
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system is one of the best tools scientists in the U.S. and Canada have to monitor weather and to better understand the dynamics between land, the atmosphere, oceans and the climate. It’s no wonder Matthew Gonzales feels like his work on the GOES system is making a positive difference.
“I used to underestimate the impact of the work I do, but I’ve learned that the whole country relies on our work to monitor and collect weather data efficiently and accurately,” Matthew said.
In his role, Matthew assists in implementing and maintaining the hardware that commands GOES system weather satellites and that receives the data back. He travels to different facilities, where he ensures that all equipment is updated and cleaned to minimize risk to the program.
As a young professional, Matthew has seen firsthand how KBR’s team-of-teams culture encourages employees to come together to accomplish important goals, and how it also helps employees develop personal professional skills. Shortly after joining KBR, Matthew’s role changed and he quickly had to learn about a new system that was part of a large long-term contract. Matthew was able to seize the opportunity, and just over a year later is a subject matter expert on the subsystem.
“There is an abundance of resources and opportunities available that can benefit anyone willing to take advantage of them,” he said. “That is a result of a culture that empowers employees to learn, grow and succeed.”
When he’s not helping scientists better understand weather and climate, Matthew likes to run with his dog, try new foods with friends and family, and get his quest on in Dungeons & Dragons.
Learn more about KBR’s satellite support capabilities.
