Being an astronaut is a wonderful career. I feel very privileged. But what I really hope for young people is that they find a career they're passionate about, something that's challenging and worthwhile.

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.