This month’s spotlight shines on Randy Armstrong, Fire Protection Operations Manager on the Center Safety and Fire Operations (CSFO) Contract at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. Randy’s been on that contract and its predecessors for twenty-five years supporting the development and operations of the fire protection system maintenance and emergency services operations. Daily operations include managing fire protection maintenance and emergency action services teams who inspect, test, maintain critical life-safety fire protection systems and respond to center medical and fire emergencies at the Johnson Space Center.
Over that period, he’s been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2004 prestigious NASA JSC Astronauts Office Silver Snoopy Award and the 2008 Hurricane IKE recovery efforts support recognition.
A 4th generation native Texan from Houston, and a Texas State alumnus, Randy worked with Continental Airlines as an Aircraft Electronics Technician for 8 years performing service on MD-80 and Boeing 737 aircraft components before coming out to JSC. He’s most proud, professionally, of managing the JSC Fire Protection Operations team, and his Fire Protection National Engineering Technician Certifications and State of Texas Licensing that allow him to ensure others safety.
For 30 years he’s been married to his beautiful and loving wife Suzanne, a Business Banker with Texas Citizens Bank and part time professional realtor. They have two sons, Matthew, 21, and Brandon, 19. Matthew is currently a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio graduating May of 2019 with a Business Marketing Degree while Brandon is a sophomore at Alvin Community College graduating May of 2019 with a certification in Process Technology. Together, these three and the relationships they share, are Randy’s lifetime highlights.
The boys were very active growing up in youth organizations including church groups, boy scouts, youth baseball, football and basketball, and Randy spent 10 years managing and coaching youth sports teams in the Clear Lake area for baseball and football. Those teams won several baseball championships and 2 youth football Super Bowls. Today they all keep busy outdoors where they spend time deer hunting, fishing and boating including tubing, knee board and water skiing. That is of course when they aren’t cheering on Randy’s favorite Texans, Astros and Rockets!
That love of the outdoors has extended to travel that has seen Randy and Suzanne taking in the sights in Hawaii, and the entire family loving the times they’ve spent together at Siesta Key in Florida and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Still on the list for the sometime in the future are Australia and Alaska.
Randy said that his personal motto is “Everyday is a New Day to Make a Difference.” Given that he is a Cancer Survivor, who has been in remission for 21 years after being diagnosed with a stage 2 astro cytoma brain tumor in November of 1997 that probably takes on a slightly more poignant meaning. That also likely explains his desire to work hard, play hard and be a team player, keep an open mind and be a leader!
