I tell students that the opportunities I had were a result of having a good educational background. Education is what allows you to stand out.

At the NASA Ames Research Center Ellen Ochoa led a research group working primarily on optical systems for automated space exploration. Ochoa was in Mission Control during the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and was one of the first personnel informed of television coverage showing Columbia's disintegration. As of January 1 2013 Ochoa was named the JSC Center Director.

Ochoa became director of the center upon retirement of the current director Michael Coats on December 31 2012.