Sumara Thompson-King has had a distinguished career at NASA, marked by her pioneering role as the first woman and person of color to serve as General Counsel at the agency. Her journey with NASA began in 1986 when she joined the legal department at Goddard Space Flight Center. Throughout her tenure, Thompson-King has worked on a wide array of legal issues, including procurement, employee relations, and childcare center operations. Her career trajectory at NASA saw her gaining broad experience in contracting and non-procurement issues, and she credits the support and training from colleagues at Goddard as instrumental in her professional development. Thompson-King's ability to build trust with colleagues and her focus on facilitating progress within the legal framework of NASA have been key to her success. As General Counsel, Thompson-King has emphasized the importance of communication, trust, and consistency in legal practices across NASA. She has advocated for avoiding single points of failure by mentoring and supporting others, and she has highlighted the need for an integrated approach to legal services within the agency. Her work has also involved managing complex legal challenges, such as the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, and navigating the use of Other Transactions Authority (OTA) for partnerships with commercial businesses. 

Scope and Content Note
March 4, 2015: This interview with Sumara Thompson-King, NASA General Counsel, provides a comprehensive overview of her career trajectory, experiences, and reflections on working within the legal department at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center since 1986. Thompson-King recounts her initial impressions of NASA, noting the cultural diversity and the unique work attire she encountered during her orientation, as well as her surprise at being one of the first females on the legal team. Throughout the interview, Thompson-King discusses the challenges and dynamics of being a woman and a person of color in a predominantly male field. She emphasizes the importance of federal procurement, the influence of contractors, and the distinct nature of each NASA center. Her work covered a wide array of legal issues, including procurement, employee relations, and childcare center operations, and she highlights the necessity of providing practical legal advice. Thompson-King also speaks about the support and mentorship she received, particularly from women in support roles and her supervisor, Larry Watson, and the significance of having advocates in her career. She reflects on the need for diversity in the legal field and the strategies she employed to overcome bias and discrimination. As the first woman and person of color to be appointed as General Counsel at NASA, she discusses her approach to leadership, the importance of staff development, work-life balance, and the modernization of administrative roles. She also touches on the role of lawyers in facilitating progress, building trust with leadership, and the challenges of communication, especially in the context of social media and external stakeholders. Finally, Thompson-King shares insights on mentoring, the value of integrity and competence, and the support she has received and provided throughout her career. She also mentions her involvement in the legal response to the Columbia shuttle accident and the pride her hometown took in supporting NASA during the crisis.

April 24, 2015: Sumara Thompson-King provides a comprehensive overview of her tenure at NASA Headquarters, where she played a pivotal role in legal matters concerning bid protests and contractor claims. She delves into the intricacies of litigating protests before the General Services Administration Board of Contract Appeals (GSBCA) and the subsequent transition of protest handling to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Thompson-King recounts the profound impact of personal loss during a case and the influence of astronauts on legal proceedings, underscoring the multifaceted nature of her work. Her narrative extends to the management of the contracts division, where she offered legal counsel on program activities and major acquisitions, including input on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Thompson-King addresses the challenges and resistance encountered while implementing NASA's Other Transactions Authority (OTA), a mechanism designed to foster partnerships with commercial entities, highlighting the necessity to define legal parameters for its use. Thompson-King's contributions also include the development of the competition model for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, emphasizing the importance of legal understanding among NASA officials. She advocates for the consistent training of attorneys and stresses the significance of communication and collaboration within the legal department and across agency branches. Reflecting on her career, Thompson-King speaks to the complexities of providing legal advice, the importance of early lawyer involvement in decision-making, and the challenges of interagency and international collaboration. She concludes by discussing her personal journey at NASA, the value of diversity and inclusion, and the cultivation of leadership with diverse experiences and perspectives, all while maintaining a balance between professional growth and personal life.