José Hernández is a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and entrepreneur whose life story is a powerful testament to perseverance, chronicled in the 2023 Amazon Prime biopic, A Million Miles Away. His journey from an immigrant farm worker to a space traveler, serving as the Flight Engineer on the 14-day STS-128 mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, defines his expertise in overcoming seemingly impossible odds through discipline and commitment.
Before his astronaut selection in 2004, Hernández built a distinguished scientific career. He spent over 15 years at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where he co-developed the first full-field digital mammography system, earning U.S. Department of Energy recognition for this advancement in breast cancer detection. His expertise in materials, processes, and failure analysis was leveraged at NASA as a Branch Chief, and his team played a critical role in the investigation following the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.
Hernández's global experience includes serving as Deputy Program Manager for a nuclear non-proliferation program, overseeing the U.S. purchase of low-enriched uranium derived from dismantled Russian nuclear weapons. Post-mission, he served at NASA Headquarters as a Legislative Analyst, contributing to space policy development and NASA’s annual budget. Today, as the CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, LLC, he consults on aerospace, renewable energy, and provides crucial STEM outreach, including helping the Mexican Space Agency develop and launch Mexico’s first university-built satellite.
The essence of his message—encapsulated in his autobiography, Reaching for the Stars—is the importance of a dream, community support, and sacrifice. An accomplished engineer with numerous awards and seven honorary doctorate degrees, Hernández offers audiences a compelling, research-backed narrative on leadership, technical excellence, and the relentless pursuit of goals. His speaking engagements provide a practical blueprint for turning extraordinary aspirations into tangible achievements.
