Students

Tired of being asked what you want to be when you grow up? It's hard enough to know what you're going to do next week, let alone ten years.

But, would it surprise you to find out that all grown-ups (including your parents) were once faced with the same daunting question? We thought it would be interesting to ask why and how some of the most successful people in science, engineering, and technology chose their careers.

You're Hired!

Interested in a job in space, science, technology, or engineering? All of these people fill different roles related to the space program—and some of them will surprise you! Find out how they got their starts.

• A. Art Azarbarzin
  POES (Polar Operational Environmental Satellites)
  Deputy Program Manager
• Janis Connolly
  Aerospace Architect
• Nagin Cox
  Engineer, NASA’s Galileo Mission to Jupiter
• Janis Davis-Street
  Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory
• Jerry Elliott High Eagle (Osage-Cherokee)
  Assistant Chief Technologist
• Rafael Fernandez-Sein
  Director
• Cheryl Gomes
  Materials Engineer
• John Herrington
  Astronaut
• Homer Hickam
  Engineer (retired)
• Walter Hill
  Director, Center for Food and Environmental Systems for Human Exploration of Space (CFESH)
• Keisha Jackson
  Spacesuit Engineer
• Joseph Kagenyi
  Meteorologist, Institute for Meteorological Training and Research
• Michael Mims
  Propulsion System Test Engineer/Test Conductor
• Pat Rawlings
  Space Artist and Conceptual Designer
• Lisa Ristow
  Food Scientist
• Monsi Roman
  Microbiologist, Environmental Control and Life Support Branch
• Steve Vander Ark
  Lead, Behavioral Health and Performance Group
• Yalin Xiong
  JPL Robotics