McDougle began her career in the Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) Department as a suit technician responsible for processing the orange launch and re-entry pressure suit assemblies worn by all NASA space shuttle astronauts.  She was one of only two women CEE Suit Technicians and the only Black technician when she began her career.
She made history when she suited up Dr Mae Jemison for her historic flight aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.

 

McDougle was promoted to Crew Chief making her the first female and first Black Crew Chief in CEE. She was responsible for leading her team and ensuring the astronaut crews were provided with outstanding support during suited astronaut training, launch, and landing events. As Crew Chief she had the honor of leading the first and only all-female suit tech crew. 

 

McDougle went on to become the first, and only female, and Black person, to become the Manager of the CEE Processing Department. In this position, she managed the team of 25+ employees responsible for the equipment worn by the astronaut crews aboard the space shuttle. Her team suited up the astronauts, tested the equipment, strapped the astronauts into the space shuttle before launch, and recovered the crew upon landing.  

McDougle is also a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran. She began her aerospace career in the Air Force where she served proudly as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist at Beale Air Force Base, CA.