Meet Nagin Cox

Even though Nagin Cox calls La Crescenta home after a decade of residence in the foothills, she still misses watching the seasons change. "Going to play in the snow for eight hours isn't winter to me," she said. Nagin prefers gradual weather changes like the autumn leaves turning or feeling the chill in the air that comes before a snowstorm.

When I visited her one evening, Nagin was opening boxes in the living room, organizing her Christmas gift list. A festive row of candles sparkled brightly on the fireplace mantel, reflected in the mirror above. "At night, it's easier to pretend we're having a real winter," she said.

I met Nagin at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the re-opening of the Griffith Observatory. She serves on the Friends of the Observatory board of directors. When I introduced myself, it was a treat to discover we were neighbors.

Nagin's name (pronounced nah-ghee) reflects her Indian heritage. Her parents lived in Kansas City, Kan. Her father was a professor of political science at the University of Missouri. Nagin was born in India during a visit with her mom's extended family in Bangalore. Her dad took the family to Malaysia for three years, where he researched and wrote a book. Nagin has forgotten how to speak Malay, but those years overseas sparked her enthusiasm for international travel. She's been trotting the globe ever since.

Growing up, Nagin dreamed of being an astronaut. "I noticed that the astronauts had military backgrounds. My family had none." Nagin joined the Air Force. She attended Cornell University, majoring in engineering and psychology. After graduation, Nagin received her commission and spent six year on active duty.

Her first post was Wright-Patterson AFB, where she worked as a system engineer on aircrew training for the F-16. She arrived just as the Air Force decided to implement an integrated training system. "They wanted a one-stop solution to training. Two or three of us young lieutenants were thrown into the fire. It was a heady experience."

The base is also home to the Air Force Institute of Technology. Nagin completed an M.S. in Space Craft Operation at the institute. "There were very few women in my class," she said. On a visit to the institute a few years ago Nagin was excited to see women everywhere on the campus.