West Virginia Engineer Sworn in as NASA Civil Servant

Fletcher Newell, a West Virginia native, was sworn in as a NASA civil servant at the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia. Newell, a systems engineer, had previously worked at the facility as a contractor and intern. He was hired as part of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's directive to strengthen NASA's technical core competencies. Newell's interest in space exploration began at a young age, and he cultivated his programming skills through self-study. He worked on various projects, including AI safety and autonomous space docking, and was named IV&V Engineer of the Year in 2025. Newell's colleagues praised his exceptional talent, curiosity, and passion for NASA's mission. The ceremony was part of NASA's workforce directive to bring core, mission-critical positions into the civil service. Newell looks forward to expanding his responsibilities, particularly in helping NASA return to the Moon.