Farewell to a Superb Curator
Gooding Leaves NASA
Gooding

With characteristic calm and courtesy, Jim Gooding announced that he was leaving NASA on August 15th to take a research management position with Enron Corporation of Houston.

All facets of JSC sample curation have been enriched by Jim's expertise-cosmic dust, meteorites, lunar samples. He joined the curation team in 1981 as a curator for cosmic dust particles and subsequently served as meteorite curator, lunar sample curator and, since 1991, Branch Chief. He encouraged technical innovation and leadership in electronic means of communication and documentation.

Gooding's highly-respected knowledge of meteorites and Martian alteration products made him an effective spokesperson for sample science in planning Mars sample return missions, especially future sample curation.

Jim departs with sample curation in good order, leaving a legacy of honesty, keeping promises, serving customers and highest regard for the integrity of the sample collections. For those of us in curation, Jim has been a leader, advisor and friend. He will be greatly missed, and the shoes he leaves behind are bigger than those belonging to Shaq O'Neal.

The curatorial team wishes Jim much success and happiness in his new career. Enron has a winner!