Jim Gooding Launches New
Career in Energy Industry

Jim GoodingIn August the curation troops were stunned by Jim Gooding's sudden announcement that he was leaving. After serving as the seventh Lunar Sample Curator, since January 1992, and as Chief of the Planetary Missions and Materials Branch, since June 1994, Jim Gooding resigned from NASA service on August 15, 1997 to pursue a new career as Research Manager, Capital and Trade Resources, for the Enron Corporation.

After moving from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to JSC in 1981, Jim served in a succession of roles as a planetary materials curator while separately pursuing original research on the thermodynamic properties of meteoritic minerals and the mineralogy of water-based precipitates in Martian meteorites. Jim says he feels privileged to have held significant responsibilities in the interplanetary dust and meteorite programs as well as the lunar program. As Lunar Sample Curator, Jim encouraged technical innovation. One of his central themes was modernization of curatorial facilities to include expanded use of computers to archive and distribute electronic data records. All facets of JSC sample curation have been enriched by Jim's expertise-cosmic dust, meteorites, lunar samples.

As Chief of the Planetary Missions and Materials Branch, he emphasized preparation for future sample-return missions, including several candidates under the Discovery program as well as the larger scope of Mars sample return. 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.

Right: Young Jim Gooding (Eileen Stansbery, right) and coffee house waitress (Jackie Allen, left).

Young Bill Clinton & Gooding
Young Bill Clinton (Carl Allen) chats with Gooding after party.

Young Jim Gooding

Rene Martinez & Backup Singers
Singer Bob Z. Gooding (Rene Martinez) and his back-up singers Tari Mitchell (L) and Anita Dodson (R).

Peter, Paul & Mary Soundalikes
The Peter, Paul, and Mary soundalikes: from left to right, Linda Watts, Bill Williams, Cecilia Satterwhite, Andrea Mosie, and Kim Willis.
Although Jim remains keenly interested in planetary exploration, he decided to accept an unexpected opportunity for professional and personal growth in private industry. In his new position with Enron, Jim and his team are responsible for gathering, filtering, analyzing, and reporting real-time market intelligence relating to global energy supply and demand, including the development and use of proprietary electronic databases and analytical tools.

Jim was glowing with enthusiasm for the challenge, and the curation folk did indeed celebrate his new good fortune and commemorate his accomplishments with a formal going away party followed the next day by a much less formal occasion for the curation "family."

Jim Gooding at Formal Going Away Party
Jim slices cake at his formal going away party at JSC.
At the official gathering, Jim was presented with photos and mementos of his service to the planetary science community on behalf of an over-capacity crowd of well-wishers. Later the "family" transformed the conference room into a 1960s coffeehouse in which young student, Jim Gooding, has a conversation with young student, Bill Clinton, and both are entertained by singing groups bearing a very distant resemblance to Peter, Paul and Mary, and Bob Dylan. A good time was had by all.

Jim's departure leaves a very big vacancy in the leadership of sample curation and Mars sample return curation planning, resulting in anticipated reorganization of the curation and sample return function. To say 'he will be missed' is a classic understatement. 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.

 
Jim Gooding's Legacy
to Planetary Sample Curation

Planning for Mars Sample Return
Paperless Documentation & Archiving
Electronic Communication - On the Internet!
New Technology Cleaning with Ultra Pure Water
Stricter Sample Accounting
Orderly Planning Process
 

For those of us in curation, Jim has been a leader, advisor and friend. We are grateful for his contributions. He can be reached by e-mail at jlgeoworks@aol.com.