Kien Nguyen
Logistics Coordinator / Analyst
A quality assurance and logistics professional with over a decade of NASA aerospace experience. Kien managed software quality teams at Honeywell for NASA HQ and ran the Supplier Outreach Program at JPL. She's a Six Sigma Green Belt who now leads coordination of SMQC's NASA Commercial Aviation Services program.
Career Details
Professional history and key responsibilities
2024 – Present
Show Me Quality Consulting
Logistics Coordinator / Analyst
- Leads end-to-end logistics coordination for the CAS program — including inspection scheduling, trip requests, reporting, vendor follow-ups, and customer correspondence — ensuring smooth execution amid contract and agency changes
- Maintains and administers mission-critical databases and applications (IAOP database, CAS vendor log, AO-CAS and SCIC platforms), ensuring data accuracy, accessibility, and continuity
- Partners with NASA customers and internal stakeholders to enhance CAS and IAOP tools, workflows, and calendaring processes — improving usability and operational alignment
- Drives continuous improvement by implementing tracking, organizational, and data management enhancements that strengthen oversight, reduce inefficiencies, and support informed scheduling decisions
- Executes complex scheduling and coordination activities independently — proactively engaging vendors, inspection team members, and customer points of contact, minimizing the need for management escalation
- Supports Quality Management System (QMS) objectives by maintaining required competencies, accessing controlled documentation, complying with SMQC quality requirements, and contributing process improvement recommendations
- Ensures consistent, accurate, and timely communication across internal teams, vendors, and customers — enabling reliable and error-free submission of CAS and IAOP deliverables
- Applies strong attention to detail and technical proficiency across multiple systems and platforms to sustain the operational value of CAS and IAOP programs
- Expands technical and professional capabilities through ongoing training in supply chain fundamentals, communication, time management, and Microsoft 365 tools
- Contributes to business development efforts by leveraging prior experience and professional networks to identify and communicate potential new service opportunities
2013 – Present
Flowers à la Carte
(Concurrent Role)
(Concurrent Role)
Founder
- Responsible for all aspects of a retail business — staffing, finances, operations, and marketing
- Expanded business to two retail locations within five years
- Grew gross revenue by 350% over five years
- Continuously receives and maintains high customer ratings on product quality and customer service
- Built trusting vendor relations with farmers/growers and wholesalers
- Developed and integrated a digital work-order system to streamline order processing
- Forecasts, plans, and stocks perishable inventory accurately on a weekly basis and for large events and peak season to yield little to no waste/spoilage
- Contributes essential user interface design ideas to third-party contractors of POS system to increase efficiency, security, and sales for all users (florists) in the industry
- Develops trainable internal processes and standards to streamline daily tasks and high-volume production
- Developed an online presence with a retail website and social media that resulted in increased customer purchases
- Plans, schedules, promotes, and teaches hands-on design workshops and private events
2012 – 2013
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
via FDR Safety, Inc.
Mozambique Project
via FDR Safety, Inc.
Mozambique Project
Database Management Consultant
- Reviewed client's existing safety and quality programs and processes for oil and gas
- Provided technical support for the design of an integrated environmental health & safety (EHS) and project management system
- Provided technical support for project development methodologies, application architecture, and user interface
- Facilitated meetings to gather user requirements for client's integrated safety and project management system
- Coordinated team to execute rapid prototype application for demonstration
2007 – 2013
Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. (HTSI)
Project Manager / Quality Engineer
Project Manager (2009 – 2013):
- Managed a team of six design/development/test engineers for the development and maintenance of a NASA audit/assessment management software application system
- Liaised with internal management, design/development/test teams, and customer/stakeholder (NASA HQ)
- Facilitated standardization of multiple quality assurance and audit processes across NASA
- Developed, implemented, and facilitated change control board (CCB) on behalf of customer
- Managed customer changes and priorities and maintained project schedule
- Ensured system compliance to federal requirements
- Developed risk management plan, contingency plan, and system security plan based on FISMA and NIST 800-18 for Federal Information Systems
- Conducted internal assessment on project
- Planned and coordinated mock contingency plan
- Interfaced with internal IT teams for mainframe hardware/software maintenance and upgrades
- Managed successful application deployments and upgrades
- Maintained customer satisfaction and confidence throughout project lifecycle, balancing expectations and capabilities within timeline and resources
- Developed and presented project briefings for customer and upper management
- Provided demos and training to individuals and user groups (on-site and via web meetings)
- Responsible for tracking and reporting on budget, schedule, and delivery progress
- Processed task orders based on customer needs
- Managed remote project team members
Quality Engineer (2007 – 2010):
- Acted as lead design engineer on web-based quality assurance management system for NASA HQ
- Implemented configuration management and document control systems for software project
- Conducted risk management reviews and developed risk mitigation plans
- Developed and implemented test methods and processes
- Conducted quality management system (QMS) internal and external audits with NASA QMS audit teams at supplier locations
- Developed metrics to identify areas of improvement and effectiveness of processes
- Implemented design, test, and improvement processes using Six Sigma methodologies
2001 – 2007
NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Procurement Quality Assurance
Procurement Quality Assurance
Program Coordinator
- Managed the NASA Supplier Outreach and Process Control (SOPC) Program
- Developed processes and procedures for the program
- Led monthly meetings and coordinated nationwide supplier visits
- Tracked program budget and developed metrics
- Designed, developed, and managed the program website
- Developed process control training materials
- Designed fact sheets and outreach material as a communication tool to targeted suppliers
- Developed and maintained the supplier database for supply chain management efforts across NASA agency
- Hired, supervised, and mentored interns
2000 – 2002
California State University
The Career Center
The Career Center
Tech Support / Web Designer
- Planned, redesigned, prototyped, and implemented the organization's website
- Designed fliers and banners for department events
- Promoted events through various mediums
- Worked to troubleshoot technical issues
- Ran Access queries, reports, and labels from a database
Education
California State University, Northridge, CA
BS, Business: Management Information Systems
Languages
English
Vietnamese
Honors, Awards & Certifications
Six Sigma Green Belt Certified — Honeywell International, Inc.
NASA Honors Award, 2011
NASA Group Achievement Award, 2011
NASA Group Achievement Award, 2005
BRAVO Award — Honeywell, 2009
BRAVO Award — Honeywell, 2008 (multiple)
TEAM BRAVO Award — Honeywell, 2008
New Technology Recognition Team Award — JPL, 2006
OneNASA Individual / Team Award, 2006
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