Insights Into Innovation

By Leigh McLeod

As the officer in charge of operations for U.S. Space Delta 4 at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, Kelsie O'Brien parsed through thousands of events and reports tied to a recent international conflict. Her role required synthesizing insights for the government's senior leadership, providing a “source of truth" for critical decision-making. 

This process sharpened her ability to identify priorities and communicate them concisely under immense pressure. Today, as a human factors engineer at Northrop Grumman, Kelsie applies these skills to help her team focus on “big rocks" that drive programs forward with precision and purpose. Her military experience ensures that Northrop Grumman's solutions meet the real-world demands of service members. 

“As a human factors and test engineer, I can apply experience in the shoes of someone who has sat on these systems and used them in real-world combat," she said. “Being able to work with industry opened my eyes on how to better use my experiences in the reserves, and bring those military experiences full circle to inform decisions across our programs." 

A Career of Innovation 

Kelsie's career demonstrates how different experiences — education, military service, specialty engineering and athletics — can come together to drive innovation and teamwork. 

In her dual roles as a reservist and specialty engineering integrated product team lead in Boulder, Colorado, she ensures Northrop Grumman's solutions are not only technologically advanced but also practical and usable in the field — helping keep operators safe and mission ready. 

Her journey began in the classroom at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology. She became a flight commander at the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Battlespace Awareness Center (OBAC) at Buckley, conducting missile warning missions — a capability Northrop Grumman continues to sustain today. 

Later, as chief of training for the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Kelsie led teams through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts. She then transitioned to the U.S. Space Force, integrating tactical operations worldwide, including the Middle East, Japan, South Korea and Italy. 

Now, as a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, she teaches at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, focusing on space systems, human factors engineering and user-centric system design — expertise she also applies at Northrop Grumman. 

“I got to do some incredible work with the astronaut office at Johnson Space Center on the Orion capsule, which is going to support the Artemis missions back to the moon," Kelsie said. 

She also earned two masters' degrees in cell and translational tissue engineering and biomedical science, focusing on enhancing human performance in extreme conditions, such as high altitude or heat stress. Today, she shares her expertise as an adjunct chemistry professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

A Life of Teamwork 

Beyond her career, Kelsie finds balance and camaraderie on the rugby field. A novice in college, she later became an All-American and was invited to join the U.S. Women's National Team. She plays a fast-paced, strategic position in which she passes hundreds of times a game. 

Every facet of her life revolves around teamwork. Each role, be it a player, a military leader or an engineer, shapes her dedication to excellence and service. 

“You must determine what you bring to the table and what you are best at, and at the same time recognize strengths in others and try to build them up as much as possible so that the team performs how they need to," she said. “Winning may look different on each one of these teams, but the same principles of working together, communicating effectively, and having each other's backs is all consistent."