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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Students participate in a hands-on robotics demonstration during Career Technical Education Day at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NASA/Mark KnoppAt NASA, remaining a global leader in exploration and innovation includes having a skilledand dedicated workforce. Technicians play a critical role in advancing the agency’sresearch and missions, applying hands-on expertise across engineering, fabrication,electronics, and countless other technical fields.
To help cultivate the next generation of technical talent, NASA’s Office of STEM Engagementhosted Career Technical Education Day recently at NASA’s Langley Research Center inHampton, Virginia. One hundred high school and community college students from Virginiaand North Carolina attended, eager to explore the technical career paths that help driveNASA’s work.
“Many students picture NASA as only astronauts or engineers and therefore never considera career at NASA to be within their reach,” said Bonnie Murray, lead for the Office of STEMEngagement at NASA Langley. “Bringing students from local career and technicaleducation programs to Langley allows them the opportunity to see technicians at work,hear the pathways those technicians followed, and understand how the skills they aredeveloping in their related classes have a place in the NASA workforce.”
The event opened with remarks from NASA Langley’s Steve Gayle, who traced his path froman engineering technician co-op in the center’s Fabrication Division and a graduate ofLangley’s Engineering Technician Apprentice Program to his current role as actingassociate director. Gayle encouraged students to embrace challenges, think critically, staycurious, and create their own opportunities as they pursue their career goals.
“We need young, bright minds,” Gayle said. “At NASA, we rely on skilled hands-onprofessionals — technicians who operate our wind tunnels, apply their skills in ourfabrication shops, and use their electronics knowledge to design, test, and build criticalsystems.”
Students visit NASA Langley Research Center’s model shop during Career Technical Education Day to learn about theNASA/Ryan HillThroughout the day, students toured several of Langley’s world-class facilities, includingthe historic Landing and Impact Research Facility and one of the center’s wind tunnels. Ateach stop, they received a behind-the-scenes look at the spaces where NASA techniciansbuild, test, and refine the tools and technologies that support the agency’s missions. Thetechnicians spoke with students about their work, their career paths, and the skills neededto excel in technical roles.
Hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities lead by NASA technicians andaerospace industry partners helped students connect their classroom experience withreal-world applications. Whether observing fabrication techniques, seeing instrumentationup close, or engaging with engineering demonstrations, participants experienced howSTEM and technical skills directly translate into meaningful careers.
“Through events such as this, NASA seeks to prepare students for aerospace careersthrough experiences and investments that strengthen research capacity, build technicalexpertise, and expand reach in alignment with agency missions and needs,” Murray said.The event ended with a career panel moderated by NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, associatedirector of mission and strategy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and formermath and science teacher. The panel featured four Langley technician apprentices whoshared insights into their roles and the value of strong foundational skills in technicalfields.
Wyatt Healy, mechanical engineering technician apprentice at NASA’s Langley Research Center, answers questions during a career panel featuring NASA Langley technician apprentices during Career Technical Education Day.NASA/Ryan Hill“A basic grasp of how software, systems, and even everyday items function goes a long wayas you progress in your technician journey,” said Wyatt Healy, mechanical engineeringtechnician apprentice at NASA Langley. “When you have those fundamentals down,learning the more advanced concepts becomes much easier. It doesn’t happen overnighbut with a strong foundation, the sky is the limit.”
By connecting students with NASA professionals, facilities, and hands-on experiences, theevent showcased a broad range of opportunities available in technical careers. It alsounderscored NASA’s commitment to building a strong, skilled workforce equipped tosupport the agency’s mission and tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
For more information about opportunities to connect students with NASA’s mission, work, and people, visit:
www.nasa.gov/learning-resources
Brittny McGrawNASA Langley Research Center
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