Leland Melvin – black astronaut and public speaker. As a former NASA astronaut, Leland shares that working with students and seeing them excited about learning science, technology and math is as awe-inspiring as galactic space travel. Leland has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in materials science engineering. He worked at NASA Langley Research Center in the area of nondestructive testing creating optical fiber sensors for measuring damage in aerospace vehicles resulting in publications in numerous scientific journals. After hanging up his space boots he was appointed head of NASA Education and served as the co-chair on the White House’s Federal Coordination in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Task Force developing the nation’s 5-year STEM education plan. Leland holds four honorary doctorates for his service in education, the sciences and philanthropy.

View the videos below to see Leland Melvin in action.