Stephen W. Camick was born on April 5, 1964, to Robert A. and Catherine B. Camick. His family moved to Ohio in January 1970 where he grew up with siblings Deborah, Danial, Susan, Paula, Phillip and Timothy. He was active in Band, Choir, school plays, and the National Honor Society at Memorial High School. He also played football under future MHS Hall of Fame Coach, Skip Baughman, and wrestled for future MHS Hall Fame member, Larry Gruber. 

Steve graduated from Memorial High School in 1982, and attended Judson College in Elgin, Illinois. He transferred to Ohio Northern University in 1983 and graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. On January 26, 1983, the NASA space shuttle, Challenger, disintegrated 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members aboard. This event had a profound impact on Steve. While driving for North American Van Lines with his father, he delivered furniture to a customer who had just been hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space to work on NASA’s Shuttle Processing contract. The customer gave Steve an application and contacts to apply for a job, and Steve did just that. He was hired to work at Kennedy Space Center in May,1987. There, Steve worked in the Environmental Controls System (ECS), working with the application software team to develop the software modifications needed for the Return To Flight upgrades. Steve worked with the same ECS group for 22 years, performing software development for many upgrades to the systems at the three Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPF), the three Mobile Launch Platforms (MLP), the two Launch Complexes, 39 A and B, and also the Flight software that operated the shuttle vents while on the ground and in flight. 

As a System Operations Engineer, Steve wrote and tested the software requirements after the programmer completed the code. He served as the console expert for the ECS system, trained other operators how to use the software to operate and troubleshoot the system, and supported purges to the vehicle through processing, launch and landing. Steve also worked to develop payload purge support requirements for each flight, worked duct and instrumentation maintenance on all three MLPs in preparation for stacking and launch operations, and when the orbiters were ready to roll out of the OPF to the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) for it to be stacked on the Space Transportation System’s (STS) rocket, he would help with last minute repairs and paper closure. As a Systems Operations Engineer, he also supported integrated operations in the Launch Control Rooms to prepare for Launch and Launch itself. Steve worked on 110 of the 135 Space Shuttle processing flows at NASA including the Hubble Space Telescope, several space Probes and many Space Station Missions.

In 2009, NASA created a new program aimed at flights to the Moon and Mars. They hired Steve to develop new application software and help in the design of the ECS system upgrades needed for the future rockets starting with Constellation’s Ares 1X and the Artemis Program. Steve supported the rest of the shuttle flights and Ares 1X as NASA ECS Operations Engineer and worked with the ECS Design team to develop the new system designs with emphasis on the controls and operations of the system. He also worked on ten arms and umbilicals on the Mobile Launcher supporting the Space Launch System’s (SLS) rocket.

Over 39 years at the Kennedy Space Center, Steve has witnessed numerous rocket launches and movies filmed at the Center. He has been inside four Space Shuttles and met many astronauts and VIPs visiting the Space Center. He continues to work with the Artemis team to get man back to the Moon and on to Mars. Steve is known for innovative problem-solving and leadership in engineering teams and for advocating for STEM education and mentorship for aspiring engineers. He has received many awards for his outstanding achievements. Steve is married to Kathy Camick, and they have four children - Benjamin, Florence, Nathanael, and Esther-Ann. Steve is also a Deacon, music leader and Treasurer at a local church.



For his significant contributions to aerospace engineering and technology working on the Space Shuttle and the Ares and Artemis Programs, and for his pivotal role and leadership in engineering achievements at NASA supporting space missions and projects over nearly 40 years, Stephen W. Camick is inducted into the St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Foundation’s Hall of Fame for Academic/Professional Achievement.