IT plays a critical role at NASA by maintaining systems, resolving technical issues, and ensuring 99.999% uptime. Key responsibilities of the IT department include identifying and resolving easy and complex technical problems, responding to support requests, and thoroughly testing engineered systems to ensure compatibility and productivity. As interns, they are also required to complete a project demonstrating their engineering and creative abilities, such as designing a computer network for a business that meets requirements and budget while supporting current technology and allowing for future expansion.

1. Trevor Moon and Trey Duckworth
Brad Myers
NEAP Abstract Project
22 June 2012
Information Technology Engineering
In part of being hired as an intern at NASA IV & V, one realizes there is a diverse range of
occupations and responsibilities that assure NASA’s maintenance and preservation of
expectations and reputation. Without one of these occupations or sectors, NASA would not be
able to function properly or be capable of the production, creation, and deployment of unique
and critical software to enhance safety. One section of the program that is directly responsible for
and accomplishes most of the backbone work is Information Technology (IT).
At IT, there are more than enough accountabilities and tasks to accomplish on a daily basis
and along with these stressful and difficult tasks is the fact that they are on a very tight schedule.
Most of the help desk duties are the following: Identify, research and resolve easy and complex
technical problems, respond to telephone calls, email and personnel requests for technical
support, document, track, and monitor the problem(s) to ensure a timely resolution. Most of the
actual IT work requires a lot of engineering, designing and testing. The engineered systems that
IT designs must be tested thoroughly to insure compatibility and productivity to maintain a goal
of 99.999% uptime.

2. In addition, we are demanded to have a “project” that will test our abilities in engineering
and creativity. For example, we must engineer and test a computer network for a business and/or
client(s) that have a list of requirements and budget restrictions through various networking and
logic diagrams (through Microsoft Visio), specification lists, and any proposals and
documentation (through Microsoft Excel). Also, the network has to maintain a 99.999% uptime;
support today’s technology but be flexible enough for expansion in the future and have
collaboration abilities between employees and customers both internal and external.