KARYN BARKER

Program Management | Mission Support & Commercial Space | PMP

"I help translate strategy into organized execution across government and commercial space environments. As a PMI-certified PMP with Space Coast experience, I build the stakeholder alignment, program frameworks, and operating discipline that help customer-facing organizations deliver with integrity."

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Executive Summary

My work centers on turning complex stakeholder needs into organized, accountable execution. Since 2020, I have supported KSC and Space Coast projects involving government, defense, commercial-space, and customer-facing priorities.

As a PMP-certified program manager, I bring experience in government-facing contract environments, proposal and estimate development, stakeholder coordination, process improvement, schedule and cost visibility, and executive communication. I am most effective where strategy, customer commitments, and cross-functional delivery must stay aligned.

I have supported a critical contract transition, built practical PMO tools and standard operating methods, helped recover an important customer relationship, and managed delivery through first-tier subcontract and FAR-related requirements. My approach is grounded in precise communication, sound judgment, and integrity.

I am currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Space Commercialization at the University of Central Florida. My focus is to apply a Space Coast perspective and stronger commercial-space fluency to mission-support, customer-integration, and program-management opportunities.

Core Competencies & Expertise

Program Execution & Strategy

Program & Project Management
PMO & Standard Operating Methods
Schedule, Cost & Risk Visibility
Process Improvement & Performance Tracking
Strategic Proposal Development

Government & Commercial Customer Integration

First-Tier Subcontract Execution
FAR-Related Contract Requirements
Agreement-Driven Operating Environments
Stakeholder & Client Communication
Customer Needs, Solutions & Estimates

Mission Support & Operational Readiness

KSC & Space Coast Context
Cross-Functional Team Coordination
Transition Leadership & Service Continuity
Commercial Space Customer Support
Executive Communication & Follow-Through

Technology & Continuous Improvement

Microsoft 365 / SharePoint / Teams
Procore Process Implementation
AI Project Management (PMI-CPMAI, In Progress)
Digital Workflow & Knowledge Management
Market Research & Commercial-Space Learning

Technical Proficiency

Program Controls & Analytics

Microsoft Project
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Schedule & Progress Tracking
Budget Variance Analysis
Microsoft Excel & Power BI

Collaboration & Knowledge Management

Microsoft Teams & SharePoint
Microsoft 365 Suite
Google Workspace
Procore Document & Workflow Management
Adobe Acrobat Pro

Executive Communication & Presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint (Advanced)
Adobe Creative Cloud
Canva
Proposal & Presentation Development
Stakeholder Meeting Facilitation

Government Contract Environment

FAR / DFARS Awareness
Multi-Tier Flowdown Context
CMMC / NIST 800-171 Awareness
SAM.gov, SPRS & PIEE Administration
Agreement & Contract Documentation

Commercial Space Development

Space Commercialization MBA Coursework
Space Law, Policy & Business Development
Launch Operations Management Coursework
Supply Chain & Logistics Coursework
SpaceNews, IBISWorld & BryceTech Research

Strategic Impact & Case Studies

Mission Continuity During a Critical Contract Transition

Interim Program Leadership | Space Florida IFM Contract | January–April 2024

Challenge:

A leadership transition created a need for disciplined service continuity, clear communication, and renewed stakeholder confidence across a Space Coast contract supporting multiple government, commercial, and operational priorities.

Action:

Provided interim program leadership during the four-month transition. Coordinated with client stakeholders, organized the operating team, maintained visibility across active work, and worked within a multi-tier agreement environment to support consistent service delivery.

Result:

Helped stabilize the transition, supported continuity of service, and transferred responsibilities to permanent leadership with clearer communication and operating discipline.

Strategic Customer Recovery & First-Tier Subcontract Win

Project Manager / Estimator | KSC Program Environment

Challenge:

After an important customer relationship had gone inactive, the organization needed to re-establish trust and earn a new opportunity within a sensitive government-program environment.

Action:

Reconnected with customer stakeholders, coordinated with the customer’s contracts and program contacts, and developed a proposal aligned with FAR-related requirements. After award, maintained recurring customer communication and managed solutions, estimates, approvals, schedules, materials coordination, delivery oversight, and invoicing.

Result:

Secured and managed a multi-year first-tier subcontract under a major aerospace prime supporting a sensitive U.S. Air Force program at KSC.

Enterprise PMO Development

Project Manager / Estimator | RUSH Facilities

Challenge:

The organization needed more consistent methods for estimating, proposal development, project tracking, and management visibility across concurrent government and commercial work.

Action:

Built practical PMO tools and standardized methods for estimating, scheduling, process monitoring, cost tracking, documentation, and proposal development. Introduced performance measures to provide earlier visibility into scope, schedule, and budget conditions.

Result:

Created a more repeatable operating structure that improved consistency, supported informed decision-making, and strengthened delivery discipline across concurrent projects.

Concept-to-Execution Community Development

Owner / Project Development & Business Development | Mercurial, LLC

Challenge:

A community-serving retail and health-services concept required local input, a viable customer-facing approach, public approval, and coordinated execution.

Action:

Developed community relationships, scheduled and hosted feedback meetings, shaped the project’s appearance and material approach, prepared and presented for zoning approval, and coordinated delivery details with partners and local requirements.

Result:

Advanced the concept through stakeholder alignment and zoning approval, demonstrating an entrepreneurial ability to translate early-stage ideas into organized, community-informed project execution.