Jose Hernandez: Hispanic Astronaut

  • José Hernandez’s inspring life story takes him on a journey from a migrant farmworker to a NASA astronaut.
  • Hernandez is the topic of Amazon Prime’s A Million Miles Away, a biopic about his path from a farm worker to becoming an engineer and an astronaut. 
  • He served as flight engineer aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-128 to the International Space Station and was formerly a Legislative Analyst at NASA Headquarters.
  • Hernandez has received two NASA Service Awards and seven honorary degrees, among other honors.

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Stockton, CA, USA
  • **Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000

Keynote Topics

Jose Hernandez’s talk is an effective motivational talk where individuals leave so inspired, they re-evaluate and upgrade their personal and professional goals in life. This is accomplished by empowering attendees through his anecdotal stories of hard work and perseverance. He shares a simple yet effective recipe that serves as an effective tool in the empowerment process.

Reaching your full potential
Dare to dream big when you are willing to work hard for it
Jose shares his 6 ingredient recipe to success that lead him to his goal of becoming an Astronaut
His conference leads to re-evaluation and upgrading of the audience’s goal

Jose discusses how he developed his leadership and communication skills both as a social advocate in various community-based organizations and through experiences as he moved up through middle/senior management positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and NASA.

This is a sensitivity training course where Jose points out that everyone has internal biases. Acknowledging and managing these biases not only allows us to treat everyone equally, but in an inclusive manner. In doing so, we can focus on individualistic needs.

In a diverse workplace, differences exist, and people require support in different ways. Equity asks us to acknowledge that everyone has different needs, experiences, and opportunities.

This talks centers around the subject of common to high achievers, people who break barriers and/or are “first in their family to achieve.” These achievements cause individuals to doubt their abilities to the point they feel like a fraud.

It disproportionately affects people who break barriers and are one of the first in their families to have college graduate careers.

They typically find it difficult to accept their accomplishments and many questions whether they’re deserving of recognition and accolades. Jose not only talks about the subject, but also discuss methods he used to overcome such feelings.

This talk centers around the importance of staying on the leading edge of technology and how it affects our everyday lives. It introduces the concept of disruptive technologies, how to identify and take advantage of them.

NASA engineer Jose Hernandez wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space. “I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, Calif., and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps,” […]

NASA engineer Jose Hernandez wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space.

“I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, Calif., and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps,” says Hernandez, who was a senior in high school at the time.

“I was already interested in science and engineering,” Jose Hernandez remembers, “but that was the moment I said, ‘I want to fly in space.’ And that’s something I’ve been striving for each day since then.” And now that hard work has paid off.

Jose Hernandez was selected to begin training as a mission specialist as part of the 2004 astronaut candidate class.

“Some kids might think it would be fun to travel like that,” Hernandez laughs, “but we had to work. It wasn’t a vacation.”

Jose Hernandez

This system has proven useful for detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage than present film/screen mammography techniques. Hernandez has won recognition awards for his work on this project. He has also worked in the international arena where he represented Lawrence Livermore and the U.S. Department of Energy on Russian nuclear non-proliferation issues.

During the astronaut application process, Hernandez had to meet with a review board. That’s where he came face-to-face with his original inspiration: Franklin Chang-Diaz.

“It was a strange place to find myself, being evaluated by the person who gave me the motivation to get there in the first place,” Hernandez says. “But I found that we actually had common experiences — a similar upbringing, the same language issues. That built up my confidence. Any barriers that existed, he had already hurdled them.”

Hernandez smiles. “Now it’s my turn!”

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

You may be interested in...

  • (44)

Jacob Morgan is a three time best-selling author, keynote speaker and futurist who explores the future of work and employee experience. His books include The Employee Experience Advantage (2017), The Future of Work (2014), The Collaborative Organization (2012), and his forthcoming book on the future of leadership which will be released towards the end of […]

  • Travels from: Calabasas, CA
  • Futurists Speakers
  • (96)

Professional tennis player and sports speaker Anna Kournikova, known for her beauty and celebrity status, has made her one of the most well known tennis player in the industry. In 2000, Anna was ranked No. 8 in the world and has been named No. 1 in the world in doubles at various points in her […]

  • Travels from: Miami, FL
  • Sporting Speakers
  • (36)
David Salyers

David Salyers is a visionary leader, author, and marketing expert who played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most beloved brands in America: Chick-fil-A. As one of the original two marketing executives at Chick-fil-A, David spent an impressive 37 years in the company’s marketing department, most recently serving as Vice President. Throughout his […]

  • Travels from: Atlanta, GA
  • Culture Speakers
  • (65)
Cory Almeida

Cory Almeida is an electrifying presence in the world of entertainment, known for his unmatched charisma, sharp wit, and ability to connect with diverse audiences. As a seasoned keynote speaker and event host, Cory’s professional expertise spans across television, live events, and corporate engagements, making him a go-to choice for organizations and event planners seeking […]

  • Travels from: Las Vegas, NV
  • Event Emcee
  • (25)
  • (3)
Wema Hoover

Wema Hoover is a trailblazer in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), organizational development, and authentic leadership. With a career spanning decades, she has become a trusted voice for driving meaningful transformation in corporate culture. Known for her ability to inspire leaders and teams alike, Wema’s thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies resonate on […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Diversity Speakers
  • (22)
  • (1)
Kathy Cleveland Bull

Kathy Cleveland Bull is a highly regarded professional speaker, trainer, and consultant. Her company, N~Compass Consulting, has helped clients on three continents “Navigate the Art and Science of Change.” Kathy has appeared with Dr. Phil McGraw and Deepak Chopra where she delivered her powerful change message to an audience of over 7,000 people. Kathy conducts […]

  • Travels from: Columbus, OH
  • Change Speakers
  • (18)
Jon Youshaei

With a remarkable career spanning across two of the most influential platforms in the digital world, Jon Youshaei stands as a luminary figure in the realms of marketing and content creation. Recognized by Inc Magazine as the individual who has “cracked the code to going viral,” Jon’s journey has been nothing short of exceptional. Having […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Marketing Speakers
  • (43)
Diana Kander

Diana Kander stands at the forefront of innovation, challenging conventional wisdom and sparking curiosity in the hearts of business leaders worldwide. As a New York Times best-selling author, innovation consultant, and captivating keynote speaker, Diana doesn’t just ask big questions; she ignites the imagination of her audiences, encouraging them to rethink the very essence of […]

  • Travels from: Kansas City, MO
  • Innovation Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel