Christie Swarts '96

Christie Swarts received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Alfred University in 1996. She was heavily involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers student chapter, competed in the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge and was a sister of the Alpha Kappa Omicron sorority.

After graduation, Christie joined Dresser-Rand in Olean, New York, as an Aerodynamics and Performance Engineer and later became a Project Engineer in their Chesapeake, Virginia location. There she managed new equipment projects for both commercial and U.S. Department of Defense customers.

In 2004, she joined Jacobs Technology as a Project Manager on their contract at NASA Langley Research Center, focused on the overhaul of the compressor systems in their high-pressure generation facility. This role later led her to be named manager of the Jacobs Pressure Systems Group tasked with the inspection and certification of all high pressure and vacuum systems at NASA Langley Research Center.

In 2017, Christie joined NASA Langley Research Center as a civil servant, as the Deputy Pressure Systems Manager, and then Pressure Systems Manager. In this role, she was the technical authority for the design, installation, maintenance, inspection, and certification of Langley’s high-pressure systems. These systems encompass large scale wind tunnels, miles of high-pressure air and steam piping, Compressor Station, air storage facility and Boiler Plant, along with hundreds of laboratories encompassing more than $1.5 billion in NASA assets.

Christie was named the Deputy Chief Engineer for Center Operations in 2020, where she is responsible for guiding and implementing the Technical Authority process within Center Operations and advises on the deviation of institutional requirements and resolution of dissenting opinions. In this role, she also mentors personnel in facility project management, systems engineering, and engineering best practices; along with supporting and encouraging efforts to assess and improve the technical competence of the facility engineering community.

In 2021, Christie was named Facilities Chief, the head of the Facilities Management Office within Center Operations Directorate. She leads Facility Configuration Management, Asset Stewardship programs, as well as providing management oversight of the Center Maintenance, Operations, and Engineering (CMOE) contract. In addition, she provides technical leadership to the Projects and Engineering Branch and the Maintenance and Operations Branch which encompasses the maintenance, custodial, grounds, renovation, and new construction at NASA Langley Research Center. NASA Langley Research Center encompasses 185 buildings on 764 acres with a $4.2 billion replacement value.

As an Alfred University Alumni, Christie is a member of the Saxon Circle, Heritage Circle, and board member of the Alumni Council.