Lori Levine: Protecting the Environment, Enabling the Mission

Originally posted on the NASA.gov website on June 7th, 2022. Removed from the NASA.gov website on February 6th, 2025 as part of the Trump administrations efforts to remove all traces of DEI.

Written by Elizabeth M. Jarrell
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Name: Lori Levine

Title: Program Manager for Stormwater Quality, Oil Operations and Wallops Natural Resources

Formal Job Classification: Environmental protection specialist

Organization: Medical and Environmental Management Division, Management Operations Directorate (Code 250)

What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? How do you help support Goddard’s mission?

I provide environmental compliance expertise for projects and organizations. I ensure that our missions meet environmental regulatory requirements and minimize their impact on the surrounding environment.

How did you journey from an undergraduate degree in German and medieval studies to environmental protection?

I love languages, history, and literature, so I majored in German and medieval studies at Towson University in Maryland. Upon graduation, the Navy hired me under the Outstanding Scholars program as an acquisition intern. While there, I saw job postings for Goddard. It had been my dream since childhood to work for NASA in some capacity, so in 1999 I went to Goddard as a contract specialist and later became a contracting officer. I was a contracting officer for several Earth science projects. I found the science and project management fascinating, and I became much more interested in environmental stewardship and management. In 2005, I was selected for a detail in the Medical and Environmental Management Division. While there, I finished a master’s degree in environmental management and was then offered a permanent position. I now manage our regulatory programs for stormwater, oil operations and NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility natural resources.

What do you love most about your job?

I love working with such smart people. Every day is different, and I experience so many facets of Goddard. I could be on a construction site inspection, coordinating our response to a spill or meeting with lab or facilities managers. There is always an opportunity to learn and problem-solve, and it feels good to protect the environment while enabling the mission.

What are your goals as co-chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Employee Resource Group (ERG), formerly Advisory Committee?

Liz Matson and I co-chair the LGBTQ+ ERG. I hope to ensure we are a resource for action to move forward initiatives that will help Goddard be more inclusive and welcoming. I want us to listen to the concerns of our employees and relay them to management. The ERG issued a survey a couple of years ago and have used the data from that to guide strategic planning. We’ve worked toward increasing LGBTQ+ awareness and education, such as being an effective ally and transgender awareness, and initiatives such as gender-neutral restrooms in Goddard buildings. We learned that 64% of the LGBTQ+ employees are not out at work, so there’s still a lot to do to ensure that all feel safe to be their authentic selves at Goddard.

What do you do for fun?

My favorite things are running and gardening. I do distance running, including marathons, ultramarathons, and running adventures with friends. I ran the 41-mile Northern Central Railroad Trail (between Hunt Valley, Maryland, and York, Pennsylvania) in one day – in the snow. I run almost every day, about 40 to 50 miles a week. I am also passionate about landscaping with native plants. I can’t say no to any plant that will attract a new insect, and I have created my garden to benefit insects and birds.