My family is dominated by scientists and engineers ranging from atmospheric scientists studying weather patterns to electrical engineers selling computer parts. Science and space have been so ingrained in my life for so long that it is hard to pinpoint where exactly it all started, but I really have two family members to thank for it.

From a young age, my Grandpa would sit under the stars with me in his backyard quizzing me on constellations and planets. I would take pride when I could get the right answer and see a look of satisfaction in his eyes. My Grandpa was a Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force supporting a wide variety of things such as programs for communications satellites and studying solar weather so that when we launched astronauts into space, we could feel confident that they were safe. He proceeded to take a job at NOAA studying the weather patterns in Earth's upper atmosphere. I still to this day do not miss an opportunity to hear another story about his work.

My Dad worked for United Launch Alliance (ULA) working on control algorithms for their rockets and ensuring the satellite's that they launched would be successful. I may not be old enough to say I watched astronauts go to space from American soil, but I can say that I watched dozens of NASA, DoD, and Commercial satellites launch into space and from then on I knew I had to pursue a career in Aerospace.