1 00:00:00,125 --> 00:00:06,756 Hi, my name is Christina Martinez and I'm a U.S. Navy Veteran with 22 years of service. 2 00:00:06,756 --> 00:00:11,845 I continue to serve as the Enterprise Cybersecurity Risk Manager at Johnson Space Center. 3 00:00:11,845 --> 00:00:16,766 At NASA, we pay tribute to the men and women Veterans that continue to lead the way 4 00:00:16,766 --> 00:00:18,518 into the future of space exploration! 5 00:00:18,518 --> 00:00:24,649 This November, we shine the spotlight on just a few Veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. 6 00:00:24,649 --> 00:00:29,446 Our journey back to the Moon and on to Mars starts at home, and NASA’s Veterans are 7 00:00:29,446 --> 00:00:32,532 a big part of accomplishing that mission. 8 00:00:32,532 --> 00:00:36,244 Veterans currently make up 12% of the NASA work force! 9 00:00:36,244 --> 00:00:42,250 Many of the most iconic figures at the agency—our astronauts—have a strong veteran tie. 10 00:00:42,250 --> 00:00:48,006 In fact, all NASA astronauts were military pilots until 1965. 11 00:00:48,006 --> 00:00:54,095 Of the 385 total NASA Astronauts, 223 are Veterans! 12 00:00:54,095 --> 00:00:58,975 Veterans continue to have a sweeping impact on NASA, in every corner of our workforce. 13 00:00:58,975 --> 00:01:05,940 NASA’s own Deputy Administrator, Pam Melroy, is a Retired US Air Force Colonel and Astronaut. 14 00:01:05,940 --> 00:01:13,364 A verteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm with 200 combat and combat support hours. 15 00:01:13,364 --> 00:01:18,912 She also logged 38 days in space in three missions to help build the International Space 16 00:01:18,912 --> 00:01:20,413 Station. 17 00:01:20,413 --> 00:01:25,251 NASA Astronaut, Dr. Jonny Kim, is a former U.S. Navy Seal. 18 00:01:25,251 --> 00:01:30,381 Lieutenant Commander Kim completed more than 100 combat operations and is the recipient 19 00:01:30,381 --> 00:01:33,885 of the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat “V”. 20 00:01:33,885 --> 00:01:39,140 He was recently selected to join the Artemis Team, a special group of Astronauts leading 21 00:01:39,140 --> 00:01:41,643 the charge back to the moon and beyond. 22 00:01:41,643 --> 00:01:47,982 Now Chair of the NASA Advisory Council, Retired General Lester Lyles entered the U.S. Air 23 00:01:47,982 --> 00:01:52,362 Force in 1968 and served in many different assignments. 24 00:01:52,362 --> 00:01:58,535 From Avionics Division Chief in the F-16 Systems Program Office to eventually becoming Commander 25 00:01:58,535 --> 00:02:01,287 of the Air Force Materiel Command. 26 00:02:01,287 --> 00:02:05,959 Lieutenant General Larry James entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate of the 27 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:08,878 United States Air Force Academy in 1978. 28 00:02:08,878 --> 00:02:14,717 He commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and was Vice Commander of the Space 29 00:02:14,717 --> 00:02:21,766 and Missile Systems Center and served as the Senior Space Officer for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 30 00:02:21,766 --> 00:02:27,856 He retired from the Air Force in 2013 to assume the role of deputy director of NASA's Jet 31 00:02:27,856 --> 00:02:32,986 Propulsion Laboratory and served as interim director of JPL. 32 00:02:32,986 --> 00:02:38,783 Associate Administrator Bob Cabana is a former naval flight officer and naval aviator in 33 00:02:38,783 --> 00:02:40,118 the U.S. Marine Corp. 34 00:02:40,118 --> 00:02:45,915 During his career, Cabana has logged over 7,000 hours in 50 different kinds of aircraft. 35 00:02:45,915 --> 00:02:49,335 Cabana was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1985. 36 00:02:49,335 --> 00:02:55,550 A veteran of four spaceflights, Cabana has logged 38 days in space serving either at 37 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:57,844 the pilot or mission commander. 38 00:02:57,844 --> 00:03:04,142 His fourth flight was the first assembly mission of the International Space Station in 1998. 39 00:03:04,142 --> 00:03:10,523 And finally, our very own Administrator Nelson began his career as a Captain in the U.S. 40 00:03:10,523 --> 00:03:11,524 Army. 41 00:03:11,524 --> 00:03:15,612 After the Army, Administrator Nelson continued to serve in public office over four decades, 42 00:03:15,612 --> 00:03:17,614 first in the state legislature and U.S. Congress, then as State Treasurer. 43 00:03:17,614 --> 00:03:21,034 In 1986 he flew on the 24th flight of the Space Shuttle. 44 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:26,080 The mission on Columbia orbited the earth 98 times over six days. 45 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:32,962 Senator Bill Nelson was sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator in 2021, tasked with carrying 46 00:03:32,962 --> 00:03:38,218 out the Biden-Harris administration’s vision to prepare the next generation to return to 47 00:03:38,218 --> 00:03:41,721 the Moon and on to Mars.