Interns with a past are NASA’s future
2016-12-13
Every intern’s journey to NASA is different. Some students forego the traditional route of attending college immediately following high school graduation, while others have already had separate careers entirely. This is the case for several NASA interns at Johnson Space Center this fall—all of whom have served in different branches of the nation’s military. Robert Hamilton III, Tsui Cheung, Joshua DeGroate, and Carlos Gaytan are just a few who served and protected America prior to their pursuit of a NASA internship during fall 2016.
It was easy for Hamilton to choose NASA after serving seven years in the Army, as he has always loved space exploration. After working with radio communication and Information Technology during his enlistment, he chose to pursue his bachelor’s degree in software engineering, preparing him with the skills needed to work at Johnson. After completing his undergraduate degree, Hamilton plans to begin graduate school and accomplish his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time engineer at NASA.
Another Army veteran, Cheung, is a naturalized citizen. She expressed how joining the military felt like a way to show thankfulness. Tsui wanted to push herself, and recognized the Army as both a mental and physical challenge. She became a veteran after serving five years as a nutritional care specialist and medical services officer. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and plans to complete the Pathways program to accomplish her goal of supporting space exploration and science research full-time.
DeGroate joined the Navy at 18 because he was unsure of what he wanted to do after high school and felt too young to make a decision on which direction he wanted the rest of his life to take.
“I saw the Navy as an opportunity to learn a skill, travel for free and meet people from all over the world—which was exactly how it played out,” DeGroate said.
During his service, DeGroate worked as an electrician’s mate for eight years. As an aviation electrician, he installed, modified and maintained electronic parts in aircraft systems and equipment. Since his transition out of the military, DeGroate made a goal to become a NASA engineer. He currently studies mechanical engineering to better himself as a technician so that someday he can become an engineer who can connect the engineering process with the human aspect of maintenance. After graduation, he plans to move to Houston and join the NASA family full-time.
Some interns had a shorter time in service than others, but were nevertheless able to contribute an invaluable amount to America. Gaytan is a former Marine of nearly two years, serving as a 0311 rifleman and member of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines. He was medically retired due to wounds inflicted by enemy fire during combat operations in Najaf, Iraq. This is where his unit operated as the primary scout, assault and close combat force for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Gaytan was inspired to join the military by his father, a retired Navy master chief.
“I grew up admiring photos of my dad’s deployments when he served overseas with Marines,” Gaytan said. “He was in a helicopter squadron and would sometimes land in foreign countries to provide humanitarian aid. The Marines would fan out and provide security. I wanted to be the Marine protecting my dad overseas.”
Gaytan is now pursuing his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and plans to return to Johnson after graduation as a full-time employee. He wants to further his education by obtaining a master’s degree and, someday, travel beyond low-Earth orbit as a member of NASA’s astronaut corps.
Though these interns have served in different branches, they all agree that they felt more prepared to work at NASA due to qualities and skills they gained during their time of service. Teamwork and clear communication are critical to successful NASA missions, while self-discipline and a tireless work ethic ensure jobs are performed thoroughly and in a timely manner. The interns shared how they served in leadership roles unparalleled to those offered in other job experiences. Some might even say they learned how to push themselves to work harder than they thought they could. This, in combination with their passion for NASA, nearly guarantees an exciting and prosperous future for the agency. Because of their relentless dedication and drive, there’s no doubt that these interns have bright futures ahead.
Leah Cheshier
NASA Johnson Space Center
It was easy for Hamilton to choose NASA after serving seven years in the Army, as he has always loved space exploration. After working with radio communication and Information Technology during his enlistment, he chose to pursue his bachelor’s degree in software engineering, preparing him with the skills needed to work at Johnson. After completing his undergraduate degree, Hamilton plans to begin graduate school and accomplish his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time engineer at NASA.
Another Army veteran, Cheung, is a naturalized citizen. She expressed how joining the military felt like a way to show thankfulness. Tsui wanted to push herself, and recognized the Army as both a mental and physical challenge. She became a veteran after serving five years as a nutritional care specialist and medical services officer. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and plans to complete the Pathways program to accomplish her goal of supporting space exploration and science research full-time.
DeGroate joined the Navy at 18 because he was unsure of what he wanted to do after high school and felt too young to make a decision on which direction he wanted the rest of his life to take.
“I saw the Navy as an opportunity to learn a skill, travel for free and meet people from all over the world—which was exactly how it played out,” DeGroate said.
During his service, DeGroate worked as an electrician’s mate for eight years. As an aviation electrician, he installed, modified and maintained electronic parts in aircraft systems and equipment. Since his transition out of the military, DeGroate made a goal to become a NASA engineer. He currently studies mechanical engineering to better himself as a technician so that someday he can become an engineer who can connect the engineering process with the human aspect of maintenance. After graduation, he plans to move to Houston and join the NASA family full-time.
Some interns had a shorter time in service than others, but were nevertheless able to contribute an invaluable amount to America. Gaytan is a former Marine of nearly two years, serving as a 0311 rifleman and member of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines. He was medically retired due to wounds inflicted by enemy fire during combat operations in Najaf, Iraq. This is where his unit operated as the primary scout, assault and close combat force for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Gaytan was inspired to join the military by his father, a retired Navy master chief.
“I grew up admiring photos of my dad’s deployments when he served overseas with Marines,” Gaytan said. “He was in a helicopter squadron and would sometimes land in foreign countries to provide humanitarian aid. The Marines would fan out and provide security. I wanted to be the Marine protecting my dad overseas.”
Gaytan is now pursuing his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and plans to return to Johnson after graduation as a full-time employee. He wants to further his education by obtaining a master’s degree and, someday, travel beyond low-Earth orbit as a member of NASA’s astronaut corps.
Though these interns have served in different branches, they all agree that they felt more prepared to work at NASA due to qualities and skills they gained during their time of service. Teamwork and clear communication are critical to successful NASA missions, while self-discipline and a tireless work ethic ensure jobs are performed thoroughly and in a timely manner. The interns shared how they served in leadership roles unparalleled to those offered in other job experiences. Some might even say they learned how to push themselves to work harder than they thought they could. This, in combination with their passion for NASA, nearly guarantees an exciting and prosperous future for the agency. Because of their relentless dedication and drive, there’s no doubt that these interns have bright futures ahead.
Leah Cheshier
NASA Johnson Space Center
Interns (clockwise from top left) Caleb Trevithick, Tsui Cheung, Thomas Castleman, Carlos Gaytan and Joshua Degroate are only a few who have served in the nation’s military before accepting a NASA internship. Image Credit: NASA