Hispanic engineer, astronaut a product of rare ambition ---
On July 21, the U.S.S. Hornet in Alameda commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. A highlight of the commemoration event aboard the historic aircraft carrier was an unveiling of a special exhibit featuring former astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, who addressed the attending crowd before joining a meet and greet session.
On July 21, the U.S.S. Hornet in Alameda commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. A highlight of the commemoration event aboard the historic aircraft carrier was an unveiling of a special exhibit featuring former astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, who addressed the attending crowd before joining a meet and greet session.
Hernandez was born in French Camp, California in 1962, where he spent his childhood helping his family work the fields across California. His farm-working parents always stressed the importance of education and the need to work hard in order to achieve dreams. Jose’s father made his children realize that without education, they would remain farm workers, reinforcing the fact that their future was in their hands.
The Apollo 17 mission made a big impression on nine year-old Jose, who became determined to do whatever it would take to become an astronaut. With his parent’s support he established a plan on getting there by studying hard and planning for higher education. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific, Jose went on to get a master’s degree in engineering from U.C. Santa Barbara. He worked as an engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he was recognized for his work in assisting to develop the first full-field digital mammography imaging system, helping early detection of breast cancer.
Hernandez´s current ambition is running for U.S. Congress in California's 10th District. The accomplished candidate lives in Stockton with his wife and five children.
After seeing the humbleness in which Hernandez dealt with people at the U.S.S. Hornet event, one can see only a lifetime of humbleness, hard work, and success.
The Apollo 17 mission made a big impression on nine year-old Jose, who became determined to do whatever it would take to become an astronaut. With his parent’s support he established a plan on getting there by studying hard and planning for higher education. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific, Jose went on to get a master’s degree in engineering from U.C. Santa Barbara. He worked as an engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he was recognized for his work in assisting to develop the first full-field digital mammography imaging system, helping early detection of breast cancer.
Hernandez´s current ambition is running for U.S. Congress in California's 10th District. The accomplished candidate lives in Stockton with his wife and five children.
After seeing the humbleness in which Hernandez dealt with people at the U.S.S. Hornet event, one can see only a lifetime of humbleness, hard work, and success.