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After each panelist introduced themselves with their job titles and employers, student moderators Nicholas Florio 鈥�20 EE, 鈥�21 MSEE, president of AIAA and the CubeSat Club; Taleen Postian 鈥�24 CLAS, vice chair, Branch Affairs for AIAA; and ASME president Samuel Thomas 鈥�22 ME posed a series of questions to shed light on the space industry, which has steadily grown in popularity with undergraduates. In addition to detailing their own career paths鈥攎ost of which began with a lifelong passion for space鈥攖he panelists were asked about the biggest surprise they discovered along the way. Dunn replied that the rotational program which began her time at General Electric introduced her to survivability engineering, a field she didn鈥檛 even know existed and which ultimately changed her trajectory. Sanzone remarked on the number of young adults who were leading the space program when he began working in 1968. 鈥淭he average age of a flight controller when we first landed on the moon was 26,鈥� he said. Testa noted that when she started with NASA in 2017 she was one of very few recent graduates. Today, she added, 鈥淭he private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin skew younger.鈥�

The panelists were also asked how the industry has changed and a common theme was the trend toward new companies entering the industry. 鈥淢any are under the impression that little is happening in the way of space development today when there is actually more taking place than at any time in our history,鈥� pointed out Gleckel. Blanco said that when he started in this field 20 years ago, no one would have imagined that private companies would be going to into space.

Invited by Nick Florio to 鈥渂oast,鈥� the panelists then shared the projects they are most proud of. Dunn talked about having worked on the Falcon program鈥檚 telemetry system from design and test to flight. Sanzone noted that while the Apollo 11 mission is certainly a highlight, he鈥檚 most proud of his work on the development of the space suit. Testa reported that her current work on the astronaut centrifuge training program tops her list.

The evening closed with student participants鈥� questions, among them, 鈥淲hat are these companies looking for in new hires?鈥� Responses included 鈥渞elated extracurricular activities;鈥� 鈥渃ommunication skills;鈥� and 鈥渆nthusiasm, energy and drive.鈥� Dr. Nersesov asked about the value of a business minor, to which Gleckel replied, 鈥淧ure gold,鈥� and added, 鈥淎 diversity of knowledge is invaluable, even if it鈥檚 not in the form of a minor, your extracurricular activities can lend themselves to that.鈥� Sanzone shared the expression, 鈥淲e hire for skills, we retain for values,鈥� and he emphasized that there is no better place to find professionals with values than 棉花糖直播.

Other questions included how to find your way into the industry, the place for women and diverse candidates, and the biggest challenges for new hires. Ultimately, the best advice included:

• Say yes to every opportunity, even if it鈥檚 something you think you鈥檙e not interested in.
• Be flexible.
• Do what you love and love what you do.
• Work hard.
• Find a mentor.
•  Take advantage of the Nova network. Alumni are willing and eager to help

. For additional information about the College of Engineering鈥檚 history with and passion for the space industry, see 鈥溍藁ㄌ侵辈� Engineers Shoot for the Stars鈥� in 棉花糖直播 Engineering Update, Spring 2016 (page 4). A of the 2018 Ward Lecture, 鈥淭he International Space Station: Engineering the Unknown鈥� with NASA flight director Brian T. Smith 鈥�93 EE, is also available on the College website.