NASA has moved beyond the understanding of it’s “fan club”. The American public at large had little or no grasp of the science required to launch an object from Earth with Mars as the destination, much less what is required to have it operate upon landing. They are unable to see in a Hubble photograph either the human contribution that makes such a photo a possibility or the enormity of the findings. When such a project suffers a failure, how is one to maintain the vision when the public is no longer cheering?

The uniqueness of the NASA organization impacts directly on the type of stressors found in the workplace. Most notably, NASA is a high profile organization. Beginning with the early accomplishments in space exploration, NASA’s successes and failures have been well documented. Very few professions have such a high level of exposure to public opinion. Regardless of an employee’s direct or supporting role on a project, association with the organization during a crisis can be difficult.

Ironically, because of previous accomplishments, there is continuous pressure to not only maintain the status quo but also to excel. This is exacerbated by the increased presence of contractors in the workplace as the civil servant population declines. Additionally, employees are expected to maintain a high level of motivation in the face of insecure funding for projects and deadlines which reach into the next decade.

As technology becomes more accessible, NASA professionals are no longer working only against their own deadlines. Private industry has produced new levels of competition, creating a need to develop products quickly, efficiently, and with fewer resources.

Uncertainty and even anger are natural responses to change in any environment however, the NASA community is expected to both create change and to deal effectively with it. This work is also done in the interest of civil service and recognition may not always be forthcoming or may only be directed towards individuals holding a prominent role during a project.

Given the technical nature of the NASA mission and the ever present need to perform, communication about concerns or any non work-related issues may not be encouraged. This inability to communicate effectively has a long-term dramatic impact on productivity and motivation, including reactions which may surface in other ways.

The NASA EAP's are staffed by both NASA Civil servants as well as external contractors. Offices may be located on or off site. The NASA Centers are spread geographically throughout the country. With all of the diversity among the centers, the programs remain unified. Each of the NASA centers contributes to the overall NASA mission and vision through the creation of science, hardware / software development, and space exploration.

With their continuous involvement in the NASA community, each of the NASA EAP's has a unique understanding of the human investment which contributes to this mission and vision. Combining this understanding with the EAP's specialized services allows the EAP to effectively help the varying levels of the NASA community.

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