eGullet Q&A with NASA Food Scientist

[Jason Perlow]

TECHNICAL DOSSIER: VICKIE KLOERIS

VICKIE L. KLOERIS

SUBSYSTEM MANAGER, SHUTTLE AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOOD SYSTEMS

PERSONAL DATA: Born in Texas City, Texas, December 3, 1955.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, Texas A&M University, 1978; Master of Science, Food Science and Technology, Texas A&M University, 1979

EXPERIENCE: From January 2000, has served as Subsystem Manager ISS and Shuttle Food Systems Since January 2000, additional duties include the management of the ISS Food System. Technical management of the ISS food system includes: menu planning for ISS crewmembers, provision of flight food shipments to ISS, and development of new foods for the ISS food system.

Between July 1989 and December 1999, served as Subsystem Manager Shuttle Food System. Technical management of the Shuttle food system including: provision of flight food shipments, provision of food for training events, food service activities in support of the Health Stabilization Program, and Shuttle related research and development activities. Co-technical management of the Phase I food program which is providing food for joint US-Russian missions on Mir. Co-technical management of the Advanced Life Support food system which is being developed for the ground based BioPlex test bed.

Kloeris held various positions with Boeing Aerospace, Lockheed and Krug Life Sciences. Supporting the Shuttle food system August 1985 through July 1989.

She was a Quality Control Specialist, Dietary Services, Memorial Hospital System, Houston, Texas June 1983 through July 1985. Duties included operation of food quality lab which performed basic microbiological and organoleptic analysis of food items produced in the cook-chill food service operation; daily inspections in the food production plant and interfacing with City of Houston Health Department inspectors during inspections of all Memorial Hospital food service areas. And in April 1981 through April 1983, was a Research Technician, Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics Department, University of Texas Medical Branch. Responsibilities included maintaining cell cultures, growing, harvesting and testing monoclonal antibodies.

SPECIAL HONORS AND AWARDS:

Stellar Individual Award Nominee; Rotary National Awards, Space Achievement Foundation, March 2001. Stellar Team Award Winner for Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Crew; Rotary National Awards, Space Achievement Foundation, March 1998. Crewmember of the Phase III Lunar-Mars Life Support 91-Day Test, September – December, 1997. NASA Exceptional Service Medal, July 1997. Federal Employee of the Year, Houston Area, Professional and Scientific Division, April 1997. NASA Awards (July 1989 to present): Group Achievement Award, awarded three times; Outstanding Performance Award, awarded twice; and Performance Award, awarded five times. Astronaut’s "Silver Snoopy" Achievement Award, October 1990.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY: Member of the Institute of Food Technologists

More reading material:

Her NASA Bio: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/space/kloeris.html

Her "Field Journal", Part I: on Space Food Systems: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/journals/...s/04-29-01.html

Her "Field Journal", Part II: Eating on the ISS: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/ram/jsc030101-v.ram

A NASA brief on space food: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/refere...heets/food.html

This Q&A will utilize the Moderation Queue and your question will not appear until the Moderator has released your question or post.

Click Here for the Vickie Kloeris Q&A