Alumnus Garrett Hehn '14 reflects on leading NASA space missions

Garrett Hehn didn't dream of space growing up, but there were glimpses of a future engineer. I was obsessed with Lego, and I was always asking, how does this work? How does that work? He found his calling in high school physics. I was just really taken by this idea that I could write down equations on a page, and that would predict something in real life. Garrett dove into academics at Virginia Tech studying aerospace engineering. He also made a splash as a Division I swimmer turned coach when he honed qualities that now define his leadership. Despite being that sort of solitary experience, it is still very much a team sport. You've got to draw support from your teammates. You've got to motivate your peers and that can start to replicate and create more and more energy. He landed at NASA as a trajectory operations officer. His love of orbital mechanics quickly propelled him to the pivotal role of flight director in 2022, where he's responsible for keeping astronauts safe and accomplishing their mission. It is surreal sometimes, but, you know, I'm still getting used to it. We've had people on the Space Station for 25 years and counting continuously. And no day is the same. It's one of my favorite parts of the job. Every day, we're still learning, and we're still trying to push the boundaries. Garrett's leadership follows in the footsteps of another Virginia Tech alum, NASA's first flight director, Chris Kraft. His legacy is very strong here. You know, besides having his name on the building, his influence is still alive inside Mission Control. His structure that he created is very much what we lean upon in order to have success today. As NASA continues to explore new frontiers, Garrett says he's inspired by the future of space exploration. I think we are on the cusp of something really transformational with the Artemis campaigns. To have so many people across the NASA Field Centers, people in private industry, all working toward this common goal, is really exciting to be a part of. And the goal of it being a sustained presence on the moon is really exciting.