Team

Lauren Denson is the Group Supervisor for the Training, Tools, Technology and Tracking team in Quality Assurance and Manager of the Western Regional NASA Manufacturing Technology Transfer Center (W-NMTTC) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has supported various groups in Quality Assurance throughout her 7 years career at JPL. She manages a diverse team that supports Workmanship Training, develops quality & IT tools infrastructure, infuses new technologies, and tracking of data to drive decisions to support all Flight Projects! She has a B.S. in Computer Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Southern California. She is the Co-Chair for Native Employee Resource Group NEBULA and supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts at JPL.

Minh Do is currently a NASA/JPL Level A Instructor, IPC Trainer, and ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) Program Coordinator at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He has an MBA in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management. Minh is an iNARTE Certified ESD Aerospace & Defense Engineer. He is also an ESD Association Certified Program Manager. He holds multiple certifications from American Society for Quality (ASQ): Quality Engineer, Quality Auditor, Quality Improvement Associate, Quality Process Analyst, and Quality Inspection.

Minh is an active member of both ESD Association and NASA-IAESD-WG. He is a Certified IPC Trainer for IPC-A-600 and IPC-J-STD-001 Workmanship Standards. He accomplished the translation work with IPC for the IPC-A-610 VN, a Vietnamese version of IPC-A-610 Standard.

Irene Yeh is a Level A instructor at NASA/JPL and iNARTE ESD Engineer, holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. Currently, she serves as Deputy Manager of NASA's ESD group, collaborating with NASA centers and the ESD Association on compliance and requirements. With a decade of aerospace experience, Irene is an ASQ-certified Quality Engineer and Quality Auditor, as well as an Exemplar Global certified AS9100 Lead Auditor. Committed to mentoring future engineers, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at Cal Poly Pomona, specializing in Quality Control and related topics. Passionate about quality and education, Irene inspires excellence in both academia and industry.

Sean is a Hardware Quality Assurance Specialist with over 35 years of experience at JPL. He started in the electronics and cable fabrication center and worked his way up to Subsystem Integration and Testing (I&T), and then to Spacecraft Assembly Test and Launch Operations (ATLO). In his most recent assignment he served as the ATLO lead for the Mars 2020 Perseverance project. In addition, he spent 8 years offsite as the HQA resident for multiple spacecraft. Sean brings a wide range of experience to the training center. His focus is on producing training materials that will help all flight projects to reduce risk, increase efficiency and long-term reliability.

Katina enjoys most things Aviation, Automotive and Aerospace related and has an A.S in Automotive Engine Performance and a B.S in Aeronautics with a minor in Unmanned Aerial Systems. She is a certified IPC Trainer for IPC-J-STD-001, NASA level A instructor and prior to starting her career at JPL, Katina worked in numerous technical leadership roles including welding shop management, Quality Engineering, Hardware Quality Assurance and taught Advanced Automotive Electrical Applications at a technical Institute. In her 23 yr. career she has gained hands on experience in course curriculum development, risk assessment, failure analysis, prototype development, general assembly manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, testing and integration.

Courtney is a NASA level A Instructor at the NASA/JPL Western Regional Manufacturing Technology Transfer Center (MTTC). She has over nine years of experience at JPL as a Learning & Development Specialist designing and delivering technical training across highly specialized environments, including aerospace and private industry. She has a strong background in building and optimizing training systems, having launched learning platforms, upgraded instructional infrastructure, and partnered closely with subject matter experts to ensure accuracy, standardization, and alignment with organizational strategy. Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and is passionate about all things space, learning, and creative arts.

With more than 32 years of experience in the aerospace industry, including the past 18 years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Allen Ilharreguy brings extensive technical and operational expertise to training and workforce development. Throughout Allen’s career, Allen has had the opportunity to travel extensively in support of aerospace programs across Europe, North America, and parts of Central America, collaborating with diverse teams and supporting complex technical operations.

Allen currently serves as the Group Lead for Flight Technicians Services, Thermal Applications & Mechanisms, overseeing training and operational readiness for a variety of specialized equipment and processes. Allen is an instructor for the Manned Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) program, working closely with the Lifting Device Equipment Manager (LDEM) to ensure safe and effective training for personnel operating elevated access equipment.

In addition, Allen trains operators in machine operations, including mills, lathes, and other precision manufacturing equipment. Allen also conducts hands-on training for several crane systems across the laboratory, helping ensure that operators meet the highest standards for safety and operational excellence.

Beyond direct instruction, Allen actively participates in multiple working groups across the laboratory focused on improving processes, strengthening capabilities, and advancing operational best practices. Allen’s work is driven by a commitment to building skilled teams and maintaining the highest standards of safety, precision, and technical excellence.

Brian Monacelli is a Principal Optical Engineer and the Supervisor of the Optical Implementation group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has supported many optical hardware programs at JPL, including the optical alignment, integration, and test of the SHERLOC Instrument on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and the Coronagraph Instrument on the Roman Space Telescope. For 20 years, he has taught hands-on lab skills to technicians via the Laser Technology Program at Pasadena City College. He also supports the development of optics standards. He has an undergraduate degree in Optical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a Masters in Optics from the University of Rochester, and Ph.D. in Optics from the University of Central Florida/CREOL. He is committed to education, skills development, and process improvement at JPL.