Local astronaut Jose Hernandez to speak at Latino leadership event

Tracy Hispanic Business Group's scholarship and award recipients will be greeted by astronaut Jose Hernandez at their reception dinner on Saturday.

Jose Hernandez

Hernandez, born to immigrant workers in French Camp, will speak about how education and hard work made his career in space engineering possible.

As a senior in high school, he heard a news report that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected as the first Latino astronaut in the United States.

"That's when I knew I wanted to become an astronaut," he said.

Hernandez, who graduated from University of the Pacific in 1985 with a degree in electrical engineering, works at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

He underwent simulated launches and classroom instruction in a two-year astronaut training program to become an astronaut candidate. He is now equipped for his first launch, which Hernandez said he hopes will be within the next year or so.

He also earned a master's degree in electrical engineering at University of California, Santa Barbara. After graduating, he was hired by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he helped develop the first full-field digital mammography imaging system, a system that is used to detect the early stages of breast cancer.

He regularly speaks to young people across the nation.

"I want to elevate the awareness of the post high school opportunities right here in our backyard," Hernandez said. "I think the kids need to realize that we need to plan ahead for our future. And a good education is the key to that."

Contact reporter Danielle MacMurchy at danielle@tracypress.com.