Podcast appearances and mentions of ellison onizuka

While a cadet at the Air Force Academy, Jason Kim '99 experienced the “pedestal effect” and learned the importance of curiosity, compassion, trust and mutual respect.   SUMMARY Jason Kim, a USFA class of '99 and CEO of Firefly Aerospace, discussed his leadership journey and experiences. He emphasized the importance of curiosity, compassion, and mutual respect in leadership. Jason shared his upbringing in Richardson, Texas, and his parents' influence. He recounted his time at the Air Force Academy, highlighting the humbling experience of being among top cadets and the value of building trust. Jason detailed his career path, including roles at Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman, and his MBA from UCLA. He stressed the importance of giving back to the Air Force Academy and the Space Force.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "I think just being curious and being an active listener and asking questions and listening to other people, sometimes people want to vent, or sometimes people want to just be heard or have a voice, or some, most of the time, people just have good ideas." "And so I would just say, just be curious, what did I miss? Did you miss something? Did we both miss something? If you get all those great ideas and you share it amongst different people from different backgrounds and walks of life, you don't miss as much, you know, and you're just bet off better off, you'll have a better solution." "Building that trust, you know, with your your your teams, that's extremely empowering and motivating when you trust someone else, and they trust you, and you can go much, much further when you build that trust up." "We got this drilled into us, and we didn't even know at the time how important it was. But you know, building that trust, you know, with your your your teams, that's extremely empowering and motivating when you trust someone else, and they trust you, and you can go much, much further when you build that trust up." "And then the last thing I would say is, I think we were one of the first classes that had non commissioned officers alongside with AOCs that were there to teach us about mutual respect, about mutual respect between officers and non commissioned officers. And I think that went a long ways for for all of us, because, you know, once we went to the real Air Force, you know, we were going to lead a lot of officers and NCOs, and getting that kind of exposure early on was helpful, but also learning about mutual respect, that's something that is extremely important in any work setting that you're in."     SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN      CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Background 02:24:  Welcome to Long Leu Leadership 07:42:  Early Inspirations and Motivations 10:56:  Discovering the Air Force Academy 16:00:  Memorable Experiences at the Academy 23:26:  Leadership Lessons Learned 26:32:  Leadership: Curiosity, Compassion, and Mutual Respect 28:14:  Startup Journey: Taking Risks and Minimizing Regrets 30:07:  Leadership Lessons: MBA and Personal Growth 32:05:  Startup Experience: Joining and Growing a Company 36:18:  Family and Risk-Taking: Lessons from Parents 39:36:  Hidden Talent: Drawing and Painting 45:36:  Giving Back: Involvement with the Air Force Academy Foundation 51:30:  Impact of the Air Force Academy: Building Resilience and Confidence   TAKEAWAYS Growing up in Texas with immigrant parents instilled a strong work ethic and a desire to give back to the country in Jason Kim. Inspired by the space shuttle program and the Gulf War, Jason decided to pursue a career in the military. At the Air Force Academy, Jason experienced the pedestal effect and learned the importance of curiosity, compassion, trust, and mutual respect in leadership. Jason's academic and extracurricular experiences at the Academy helped shape his leadership skills and provided him with lifelong friendships. His parents and role models like Colonel Ellison Onizuka influenced his decision to join the Air Force and give back to the country. Curiosity, compassion, and mutual respect are essential qualities in leadership. Taking risks and minimizing regrets can lead to personal and professional growth. Giving back and supporting future generations is important. The Air Force Academy provides valuable experiences and lifelong friendships. Learning multiple languages and exploring different cultures can broaden perspectives. The Academy's challenging environment builds resilience and confidence.   ABOUT JASON KIM '99 Mr. Jason Kim '99 is a member of the Air Force Academy Foundation Board of Directors. He is also CEO for Firefly Aerospace. Jason's career includes his work in the satellite and national security space for Boeing Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. While in the Air Force, he served as a program manager for the Space Superiority Systems program and Reconnaissance Systems Program offices. He has served on the boards of the National Defense industrial Association and space enterprise consortium formation Committee. He began his Air Force career as a cadet, having graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, followed by a master's in electrical engineering from AFET and then an MBA from the University of California, Anderson School of Management.    CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          SPEAKERS Guest:  Mr. Jason Kim '99  |  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz  00:01 Our guest today is Mr. Jason Kim USAFA class of '99 and a member of the Air Force Academy Foundation Board of Directors. Jason's career includes his work in the satellite and national security space for Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. While in the Air Force, he served as a program manager for the Space Superiority Systems and Reconnaissance Systems program offices. He has served on the boards of the National Defense Industrial Association and Space Enterprise Consortium Formation Committee. He began his Air Force career as a cadet, having graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, followed by a master's in electrical engineering from AFET and then an MBA from the University of California Anderson School of Management. We'll discuss Jason's life before, during and after the Academy, and we'll ask him to share a unique talent. We'll end with his advice for those striving to become leaders and those already in leadership positions, endeavoring toward excellence. Jason, welcome to Long Blue Leadership, my friend, my classmate. Thank you for being here today.   Jason Kim  01:04 Thank you for having me, and thanks for using my call sign.   Naviere Walkewicz  01:09 You're welcome. I know we want it to catch on so everyone knows now. Well, as we do in this, this is such a wonderful opportunity for our listeners to get to know you, and we like to go back and so for us, we're talking, you know, closer to 30 something years ago, right, when you were young. Jason, tell us about what life was like before the Academy was even in your in your line of sight.   Jason Kim  01:31 So, I grew up in Richardson, Texas. It's a suburb north of Dallas, and if you've been to Dallas, it's a metropolitan city, and but it's a little bit country as well. And so yes, I grew up with cowboy boots. I grew up with a belt buckle, you know, driving a pickup truck, all those kinds of things. But I'd listen to all kinds of music. So, judging by my call sign, you know, rap music, R&B, but also some country as well. And my parents were first-generation immigrants from South Korea, and so I really saw how hard they worked, you know, learning a different language, buying a house, doing all that in their late 30s and 40s and raising three children. I'm the youngest of three boys, and so I'm very, you know, grateful for what my parents did for us three boys. My dad was an electrician on oil rigs and was in the oil and gas industry, and that's why we ended up in Texas. And I'd see him travel away for a month at a time, and then come back home for a month to places like Venezuela and United Arab Emirates and Gulf of Mexico and all kinds of places. And so, you know, I heard stories of travel and just everything he was doing. So, we'll get to this later, but he was definitely an inspiration early on for me, and he always, you know, was very grateful for being a naturalized citizen and allowing our family to grow up in the U.S. and get an education. And so, he always kind of inspired me to give back to the country, and always do good things for the community as well. And so that's where I kind of got those roots. And, you know, also being the youngest of three boys, my older brothers were seven and nine years older than me and so you can imagine I was the little kid that they would bring along to school or, you know, meeting with friends. And so, I learned the good things from them and emulated the good things, but then the bad things, the mistakes that they made, I tried to avoid that. So, I kind of got it easy watching them. And so, I owe a lot to them coaching me and mentoring me as I grew up, and then being in Texas, of course, what did I play sports in, I played football. And I would say that a lot of the leadership skills that I got early on came from football, and a lot of the work ethic came from football — the teammates, the collaboration, the strategy. Texas football is pretty legit, and so I got to watch tape, I got to lift weights, practice. All those things that Tom Brady says in his Hall of Fame speech I resonate with now, I didn't end up like Tom Brady, but I resonate with what he said, all those early mornings, waking up, you know, training, all the hard work. It really taught me a lot of good lessons. And, you know, I still kind of  have a lot of that work ethic because of, you know, playing football, and a lot of the team and collaboration came from collaborating with 10 other football players trying to score a touchdown, or keep others from scoring a touchdown. And also, a big reason why I'm a big college football fan, so I'm really happy to see your son play for the Falcons, and I'm going to be rooting for him and the rest of the Falcons, as well as my other alma mater, UCLA, so I'll be at those games as well.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:55 That is awesome. I mean, I'm almost developing a visual of young Jason and his two older brothers and his mom and dad. And what a story. I mean, I think about, you know, just first off, the confidence, resilience and grit of your parents, right? And then you're seeing this, and you're growing up in a household. So, what, as the youngest? I mean, I think, like you said, you were able to kind of see what to avoid, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to kind of navigate that. Well, when did the military kind of come into the picture? Was that something that your older brothers participated in through school? How were you introduced into that side of the world?   Jason Kim  06:32 Yeah so, I would say it kind of goes along with some inspirational people in my life. You know, growing up in Texas, the Space Shuttle program was a big deal. And I think you and I were 8 years old when the space shuttle Challenger event happened, and one of the astronauts that was a hero among all the astronauts on that mission was Col. Ellison Onizuka, and he made a career in the Air Force. He was a test pilot, graduated with his Ph.D., I believe, and became an astronaut, and really gave his life in many ways, to for science and for the Air Force. And so, seeing someone like that that also kind of looked like me was a good role model for me at an early age. And so that kind of got me interested in the Air Force and the Shuttle program. And then, you know, I think you and I remember when we're young, 1991 before we went to the Academy, you know, the Gulf War, and we saw on TV for this first time, all this shock and awe and Gen. Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell, and all the strategy that was used. The technology. You know, you heard about the second offset strategy with those F-117 Nighthawks, and all the flares that you would see that night. And it really just made an impression on me. It got me kind of excited about the military and all the technology that's involved. And also, you know, kind of got me into thinking about being a pilot someday. And again, you know, my dad always saying, “Hey, give back, Jason. You know, this country has given a lot to our family. Give back.” I kind of got that motivation to go into the military. And then, you know, I think we also had family friends that had some people that went to the academies, whether it's the Naval Academy or others, and got to learn a little bit from them what was it like to go to the Academy? And these were really good role models as well. So, I got with my liaison officer, which was a really great liaison officer, got me involved with what I needed to do to get more information. And went to the summer scientific seminar and spent a week on the campus and got to learn what it was like to be a cadet, somewhat. Yeah, it was actually fun. But, you know, meeting people, meeting the upperclassmen, and they were all super nice at the time. And I also, it turns out, I met my future roommate there, and we were, yeah, we met at the summer scientific seminar. And so, lo and behold, when I go into basic cadet training, I see him there. I'm like, “Oh my gosh, you were there at the same time as me!” So it was a really great experience, and that kind of solidified it for me that I wanted to go the Air Force Academy.   Naviere Walkewicz  09:56 So, I mean, you had some great role models to kind of facilitate some of that interest. There was a lot of things happening in the country that, you know, we both were, were very familiar with, and it created some feelings of pride and wanting to give back. Were you always thinking about the Air Force Academy because of those motivations, or were you thinking other service academies as well?   Jason Kim  10:16 I think I had my heart set on the Air Force Academy. You know, I don't know if I said before, but you know, my parents had me late, later in life, and so since I was the baby of the family, by the time I got to the age of going to college, my parents were retirement age, and I was not going to put them through what they did for my older brothers, which was room, tuition, board, and all that stuff that they had to work hard to pay for. I wanted to get a scholarship somehow. And this was a way to give back to the country, get a scholarship, get a great education. Plus, you know, I applied to all the service academies. But, you know, you'll, you'll hear this later, but I wasn't the best swimmer, so I wasn't going to go to the Naval Academy. West Point was foreign to me. I just didn't know enough about the Army, and I wanted to be a pilot. So, I thought, “Hey, the Air Force Academy is the best way to do that.”   Naviere Walkewicz  11:17 Awesome. So, you had a great ALO (pronounced AY-low and is an Academy Liaison Officer) you know, you kind of went through the process, which, in itself, is quite a process, as we remember. And so how did you find out? When did you find out you received an appointment to the Air Force Academy?   Jason Kim  11:31 That was, oh, that was, you know, I've had a lot of great moments in my life, so it's, that's reaching far back. I just remember that I was super happy. You know, it was Congressman Sam Johnson of the 3rd District of Texas that, you know, gave me the nomination. He was actually an Air Force pilot and a Vietnam POW. He since passed away. But, you know, getting a nomination from a legend like that was very much an honor. You know, I also got a senatorial nomination to go to the Naval Academy, but not knowing any better, as the 18-year-old, or whatever I was, 17-year-old, I was like, “Sorry, Senator, I'm going to the Air Force Academy. Thank you very much. I'm not going to the Naval Academy.” So I was very set on going to the Air Force Academy. I was very, very happy, because it was hard to get in. I mean, one of the challenges I had as a fairly big football player in high school was the, you know, the test that you have to physical fitness tests you have to take to get into the Air Force Academy. So, you had to do all the pull ups and the runs and all that stuff. And I had to cut weight, and it really took me waking up every morning, just going through the routine of practicing all those things, and eventually got enough confidence to pass the physical fitness test and all the other things you got to go through. So, it was very rewarding to get to the point where I got in.   Naviere Walkewicz  13:15 That is awesome. And I can see that drive, I mean, just from your family instilled in you to get to be like you said, confident, ready to go. That's no surprise at all. So, talk about at the Academy, we know a little about your roommate. You met him in summer scientific seminar. What was your Academy experience like?   Jason Kim  13:35 I remember Day 1 because there are two funny things that happened. One, somehow I got lucky, and I got paired up with a NCO, enlisted person, who I wish I remembered his name. He didn't end up staying after Basic Cadet Training, so I lost touch. But what he did for me was amazing, because he already knew the drill. He was like, “Jason, you don't know how to wear BDUs, but this is how you do it. This is how you put the blouses on.” How did I luck out? I had somebody that knew what to do and was teaching me how to do it from Day 1. So very, very much grateful to that individual. I wish I could have kept in touch with him. The second funny thing is, we all had name badges. And you know, my name badge, for some reason, it said Jun Kim. And I was like, OK, that's my last name, and it's June, I think. So it makes sense. And then everybody, all the upperclassmen, were like, “Is your name Jun Kim?” I was like, “Yes, yes, sir. My name is Kim,” and I thought it was the month. But it turns out they accidentally switched my nametag with another Cadet named Jun Kim. Yeah, and so he was wearing my Jason Kim, and so, on Day 1, you know, it was very confusing, and that got me into a lot of trouble. They're like, “Do you know…,” all the things you could think of, I was getting all those kinds of comments. And so, it was quite the memorable experience. It's like, it's hard enough being a new doolie and trying to figure it out. But then when you have those kinds of incidents, it's like, it makes it even more confusing, but it was memorable.   Naviere Walkewicz  15:33 Oh, that's awesome. I can, literally picture this.   Jason Kim  15:37 That was Day 1, and then, you know, life as a cadet. They warn you of this. They warn you of the pedestal effect, where you're in high school, you're top of your game, and top of your class and you varsity letter and all that stuff. But when you get to the Academy, oh, boy, was I humbled. I mean, there were people that were smarter than me, more athletic than me, you know, better in every way. And so, I just felt very average. And in retrospect, there's nothing wrong with that, right? But just being around 1,500 cadets, you know they just were the best of the best from wherever they were. It was very, very humbling, but also rewarding, because I got to meet people from different states. I'd go on spring break to California for the first time, because I'd make friends with people that were from Northern California or Los Angeles. So, I got to meet a lot of lifelong friends that have been my support group for my entire life, you know. And every time I get together with my friends from the Academy, it's just like it was old times. It just, it's hard to explain, but you know what I'm talking about, and…   Naviere Walkewicz  17:02 I do. It just feels like time didn't pass.   Jason Kim  17:05 That's right. Some of us, like yourself, look like you do from those days. Some of us aged a little bit differently, like myself, but yeah, it was a great experience. Now, if you remember our year — our year was the first year that had the increased level of the internet and so that got a lot of people in trouble. Because, you know, “What's this internet? What do you do with it?” What we got in trouble for in my class was we played a lot of online games, you know, in first-person kind of games. So, I remember there was a game called Quake, and it was a lot of us just playing together in our in our dorm rooms and spending a little bit too much time on that. And then I remember other video games, like Goldeneye on Nintendo, and it just sucked so much time out of our days that, in retrospect, it's like, “What were we doing?” So, I guess you could say we were kind of old-school video gamers back in the day.   Naviere Walkewicz  18:20 It's funny. I was just going to ask you, we knew that you were getting into electrical engineering. What else were you doing? So, it sounds like it wasn't football, but it was Nintendo.   Jason Kim  18:30 I really loved sports. So, I loved taking all the intramural sports and the classes like golf and tennis, and I got into rugby for a little bit, for a minute, which I really enjoyed, but it's not a very forgiving sport, so that didn't last that long. But, you know, I think just the camaraderie you get playing sports like that was fun, and I think from the academic side, you know, I did go into electrical engineering, so I did all the nerdy stuff. That's probably why we didn't cross paths. Also, you probably weren't at the robotics competitions that we were doing, because that's really nerdy. But we got into doing little Roomba robot construction before Roombas existed, and we created our own Pac Man, you know, handheld games from scratch using a box of parts and processors. And my senior design project was pretty interesting. My classmate and I decided to make a digital karaoke machine. You know, using everything we learned from electrical engineering and apply it to something fun. I just remember us just trying to make the most of it with our friends and our classmates, and trying to make it fun, because it could be a lot. I took a lot of semester credit hours my freshman year. I just remember something like 22-plus credit hours. It was just a lot, and you really needed a way to recharge. And so those were some of the ways. But of course, the skiing was amazing. You know, being so close in proximity to all the ski resorts, like Breckenridge and Copper Mountain and Vail — all those great places. So those were always fun things to do. I had my first bowl of pho in Denver.   Naviere Walkewicz  20:49 In Denver?   Jason Kim  20:52 I remember that vividly. I went to one of my first concerts, Smashing Pumpkins at the Nuggets center. And then I got to go to Red Rocks. So, there was a lot of cultural things that I got to be a part of, too.   Naviere Walkewicz  21:09 I love that. So some of the things that you expressed, and I think this is great for our listeners, because, you know, sometimes some of some of our guests have been very, I don't say tunnel vision, but there's very, like, one track they've been really dedicated to, like one aspect. You know, obviously we have to do military, academic and, you know, physical fitness, athleticism, but there's kind of one track that they really hone in on. It seems like you really kind of experienced a lot, and through all of that, I might ask, what were some of the leadership lessons you picked up and learning about yourself, because you kind of talked about that pedestal effect, right? You were really kind of high coming from high school, and then you came to the Academy, and you kind of had to rediscover yourself in a different way. And it looked like you did that. What did you learn?   Jason Kim  21:53 Yeah, so some of the leadership things that I would say, that I got exposed to — and it made me kind of think about it and much later in life, kind of reinforce it — was just to be curious. A lot of times as leaders, you can jump to conclusions but I think one technique that is very helpful, no matter what industry you're in, is just be curious. You know, when you have employees, you could hold folks accountable but be curious about it. Ask the right questions. “Is everything OK? Do you have enough support? Do you have the tools, training to do what you need to? How's your family life?” That kind of stuff. So, I think you could be very curious and compassionate and graceful in terms of leadership, and that's partly learning from good leaders, but also bad leaders that didn't do that. So, I think you got to see both sides as a cadet, and you always want to pick the good leaders and emulate the good behaviors and leave out the bad. So that's one thing I would say. You know, we got this drilled into us, and we didn't even know at the time how important it was. But building that trust with your teams — that's extremely empowering and motivating when you trust someone else, and they trust you, and you can go much, much further when you build that trust up. And then the last thing I would say is, I think we were one of the first classes that had noncommissioned officers alongside with AOCs (Air Officer Commanding) that were there to teach us about mutual respect, about mutual respect between officers and noncommissioned officers. And I think that went a long ways for all of us, because once we went to the real Air Force, we were going to lead a lot of officers and NCOs and getting that kind of exposure early on was helpful. But also learning about mutual respect — that's something that is extremely important in any work setting that you're in. So those are kind of three examples of leadership, things that I would say I remember from the Academy that are also still important today.   Naviere Walkewicz  24:35 I think that's wonderful. Maybe you'll even share an example where you saw either curiosity, compassion or mutual respect really play a role in your professional or personal life after the Academy, but before we get there, I remember you talking about wanting to maybe get into space, right? The astronaut program, be a pilot. How did that all shape out? Because you were an electrical engineer, and then what?   Jason Kim  24:58 So, I really wanted to be a pilot. And for some reason, I really liked the C-17, the Globemaster. And I think it's because it was a fly-by-wire kind of system. It was a stick, but it was like more of a commercial airline-kind of transport plane. So, it was a blend of — fighter pilots use sticks but it was still kind of an air mobility command-kind of system. But, you know, unfortunately, my eyesight, my color deficiency, just didn't allow me to go into that track. So, I really just leaned on and doubled down on my electrical engineering background and got to go to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as my first assignment. And there I was an engineer-slash-project-manager working on uncrewed aerial vehicles before they became popular. So, things like the Global Hawk and the Predator, UAVs, those were things that I was getting exposed to, and I got to put payloads on. If you remember, in the 1999 timeframe, there were Hellfire missiles put on the Predator. I was there when that was happening. And so, it was just very, very amazing to see all that happen before my eyes. I got to work on the U2 and put payloads on the U2 and other very important missions. And I think that exposed me to the real Air Force. Even though I wasn't flying, I got exposed to assets that actually went into the theater and were very valuable. And then from there, I got assigned to L.A. Air Force Base, and finally got to live out my dream of living in Los Angeles, and was assigned to the Space Superiority Material Wing, and that's where we were acquiring satellites and ground systems to help protect our freedom in space. And so, I learned a lot about space there and ground systems. And, you know, after several years working there, I decided I wanted to go into industry. And so, I did two things. I went to a large aerospace company and became a program manager there. You know, now, in charge of designing and building these satellites. So I went part time to UCLA to get my fully employed MBA, just knowing that I wasn't going to know everything about industry. I wasn't going to know everything about how to be part of a company, and so I wanted to kind of learn more about that side of the industry by getting an MBA. Unbeknownst to me, the MBA wasn't just about company operations and finances, it was actually about leadership. And so, I got a lot of leadership lessons from my MBA program as well. So, it gave me a lot of confidence. And what I mean by that is confidence in just going with your gut, taking risks, getting into high-risk, high-reward situations. And it's because I learned about, the company financials, the underpinnings of a company. I learned about entrepreneurism, what it what it's like to start up a company or operate a company or go through different case studies of how to turn around a company. I learned a lot about accounting and how important and valuable that is. But then most of all, I learned a lot from my classmates. And there were people from the Hollywood industry or investment banking or the medical industry. So, it was really great to learn from my classmates. It got me to conference level where I was like, “Hey, what am I doing at this company? I want to take a risk and go to a startup company.” And I did. I took that leap of faith, and that's where our first, you know, joined Millennium Space Systems, which was a small startup company when it was 20 people. But it was something that I guess I go back to the Air Force Academy where, you know, there's that quote in the Eagle and Fledgling statue that says, “Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge.” That kind of always stuck with me and it's one of those things where, when you join a startup company, and you help grow it, and eventually we sold the company to Boeing, you learn so much. I mean, I had five different hats, you know, and I had to learn about finance, program management, business development, engineering, integration and test, all that stuff, mission operations — you learn all those things by doing, and no one will ever be able to take that knowledge away. You just, you just get it for life.   Naviere Walkewicz  30:34 Wow, there's, there's so much that, I mean, you covered such a span, because I'm imagining, you know, maybe I don't want to call — maybe “gift” is not the right word, but not being able to be a pilot might have been something that opened up obviously these opportunities for you in ways that you could not have even foreseen. So, I actually wanted to go back to that really quick and just ask, how did you, how did you kind of re-change your thoughts or shape your mindset to, “OK, well, it's not that. So, what's next?” And how did you handle that? Because I think some of our listeners find themselves in situations where, “Well, if I do all these things, then it will lead to this.” But sometimes there are things outside of your control that even if you do all the things, you can't get there.   Jason Kim  31:20 Well, I think, first of all, I'll always be a fan of pilots and aviators and all these fighters and bombers and transport airplanes — I definitely bleed blue still to this day. So, I definitely appreciate all of our classmates that have sacrificed so much to fly in the Air Force and defend us. That's kind of my mindset is, “What can I do to still contribute to the mission to national security?” And so as long as that was kind of my guide-star, I was fine, because I knew that I was contributing to the mission in some way, whether it be acquiring platforms and putting payloads on those platforms to go support our classmates, or today, you know, designing and building systems and operating systems that end up helping national security. It's really the mindset of, “What can I do to help and make a difference, to help defend our country?” So that's how my mindset shifted, because it takes all of us to contribute what we each contribute to make these missions work. And so that's kind of where my head was at.   Naviere Walkewicz  32:50 I think that's fantastic advice. And there's this theme that's been woven since you talked about your parents, and I think it's this, you know, looking forward and investing in yourself and educating yourself. And so along this path, you've done those things. You're also a family man. When did that kind of come to fruition and how does your family feel about when you joining startups and taking risks and doing some of these things?   Jason Kim  33:16 It goes back to my dad. He gave me a lot of great advice when he was still around, and one of the advice was just sharing his regrets. You know, a lot of people thought he was my grandfather because he had me so late. Really,there's something to be said about that. He was very wise. He had a lot of experience in life, and he had global experience and had seen so many different hardships and overcome them. And he would always say, “Hey, I wish I would have taken, you know, that risk and left my company and joined my other co-workers to go start up that other company.” That actually happened. He had co-workers that ended up starting up a different old drilling company in Texas, and he thought it was too much risk at the time. He regrets that, because obviously those people that went over at the time they did, they did well for themselves. So he would tell me stories like that, and really all that wisdom he would just try to share with me from a young age. And it's hard to admit, but at some point in your, all of our lives, we start to realize how right our parents were sometimes, and so, you know, a lot of the risk taking that I'm doing, that I have done, stems from advice that my dad gave me. It's like, “Hey, go for it. Take the risks. Don't have those regrets.” And so, I think I have lived my life in that manner — just minimize the regrets and take some risk and take calculated risk and really be confident with yourself and double down on yourself. So, yeah, absolutely.   Naviere Walkewicz  35:12 I love that. And your family obviously doubles down on — yeah.   Jason Kim  35:16 I mean, I had kids late in life. I really enjoy spending time with my kids. That's how I recharge. You know, I've got a son that's turning 9 this month, and a daughter that turned 6 a couple months ago, and just watching them grow up and be curious and learn and ask questions and try different things out. You know, we try not to push things on our kids, and I'm the same way. I'm not trying to push anything on my kids, but I do want to give them a lot of opportunities that I wish I had, and just expose them to those opportunities, because you just never know which one takes off and which one really resonates with them. And so that's kind of my mindset right now is, “How can I give my son and daughter as many opportunities as possible so that they could figure it out on their own what they want to do,” right?   Naviere Walkewicz  36:09 Well, even the words that you used, you kind of talked about some of those lessons that you took away as a cadet, and you are seeing it in your children, with the way that they ask questions and the way that they explore. So, I think you have kind of taken those and pass it into your legacy line. I do want to ask a question, because we always find it fascinating when we learn more about our guests. So, do you have a hidden talent that you might share with our listeners?     Jason Kim  36:35 I do. I wish I could say it's something that is so fascinating. But really, it's just some something that I could — I could draw and paint really well, and it was something that I just noticed when I was very young. You know, I learned from my older brothers, and they were pretty good at it, too, but I learned at an earlier age than them, and so I've always been able to sketch and draw realistic pictures. When I was younger, drawing Lamborghinis. Because I always wanteda Lamborghini Countach. They don't make those cars in the price points that I would like, so I don't have one today. But I was always drawing things. And, you know, recently, I started painting as well, and it was crazy. I had never done oil painting before, and when I had my first child, my son, whatever got into me, I just picked up a brush and painted a picture of him, and it actually looks like him. And we did a side by side, like picture of him smiling, and the painting of him smiling. It definitely captures his essence, because I never got training or anything. And so, I would say that's my hidden talent. It was even hidden for me. And, you know, it's just amazing — just go for it. Just go do it. And that's one of the things that I would recommend to people that are wanting to go the Air Force Academy is just get out of your comfort zone and do as many things as you can early on, even before going to the Academy. You know, learn different languages. Just learn as much as you can. Learn lifetime sports. Take lessons of swimming or golf or tennis — all those kind of things. Just do as much as you can, because you'll get busy when you're at the Air Force Academy and you'll have less time to do all the things you want to do. But even when you're in industry and you're working, you don't have as much time to go do that kind of stuff. And you may not think you have a lot of time during junior high or high school, but you do, and you should take advantage of just learning as much as you can, and you'll appreciate it later in life when you go travel to Paris or travel to different places like Thailand or, you know, Japan. You know, if you learn those languages, you can explore those places even more in a way that you know is more enriching, and that gets me to that's what I want to do more of, is travel, travel globally with my family. I think that's something that I want to expose my kids to. And a lot of times you grow up in the United States and you start thinking, “Hey, there's only one way to think about stuff.” But when you travel — and I got to travel for work to Paris a couple years — it opened my eyes. It opened my eyes to a different world and how other people think and dress and go about their daily lives. I've also gotten to London recently for work, and that was eye opening as well, and been to Southeast Asia as well. So, it's just fascinating to go to this these different places and learn the cultures and talk the languages and meet the people. It's very enriching.   Naviere Walkewicz So how many languages do you speak?   Jason Kim So, I grew up learning Korean so I can speak a little bit of Korean. I obviously took Spanish because I grew up in Texas, and that Spanish is a very valuable language in Texas, even in California. And because I took Spanish, you know, when I get to the Air Force Academy, what do they do? They said, “Hey, we don't want you to take Spanish. We want you to be the handful of people that takes Arabic.” So, I got the privilege to take Arabic. I got volunteered into it, and it was very, very difficult for me, because I just had no background in it. I struggled with it. But the silver lining is that I learned about a new culture, and I learned about how to write right to left and, you know, just a new language and new foods that go along with it, too. So I really appreciated that. In hindsight, at the time I didn't think it was that easy, but in hindsight, I wish I would have done more and kept the fluency in it, because learning a different language means you can talk to a different group of people, and you can learn more or teach each other new things. So, it just opens a lot of doors.   Naviere Walkewicz  42:02 So, the experiences you've had, both from the Academy and the languages and throughout your career, both professionally as well. It's personally, what's something that you've taken back from those experiences that you might share with a listener that maybe hasn't had that kind of exposure, that they can bring to the leadership table. And how do you use that at yours?   Jason Kim  42:20 I think it just goes back to what it touched on before, is just the curiosity. Just always be curious. You know, I think Ted Lasso had it right. Just be curious, right? If you had just asked questions about, “Hey, did you throw darts when you were younger?” Oh, if you would have known that you would have known that Ted lasso was really good at darts. I think just being curious and being an active listener and asking questions and listening to other people, sometimes people want to vent, or sometimes people want to just be heard or have a voice, or, most of the time, people just have good ideas. And you know, it's all about, “Hey, did I miss something? Did you miss something? Did we both miss something?” If you get all those great ideas and you share it amongst different people from different backgrounds and walks of life, you don't miss as much and you're just better off, you'll have a better solution. And in my industry, you have a better design, you have a better result, performance result. And so, I would just say, just be curious.   Naviere Walkewicz  43:29 What did your road back to the Academy look like? You know, now you're part of a board of (USAFA) Foundation directors, and so you talked about learning from your dad and your mom, always about giving back. So, I have to think that's probably been part of was in the back of your mind. But how did that all come together?   Jason Kim  43:44 You know, I had no road map to do the job that I'm in right now. I never anticipated doing this job, and I also didn't anticipate being on the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation. But I had folks reach out from, you know, the Air Force Academy Foundation, and ask me, “Hey, do you know what we do? You're a big football fan. Are you aware there's a Falcon Stadium renovation?” And I was like, “No, tell me more.” And with that first visit, I actually donated right away, I was like, “I'm on board. Sign me up. I want to donate to this because I believe in it.” You know, Falcon Stadium was where we graduated, right? It's such a memorable place. We saw a lot of football games there. And so, it means so much. So, I was all about donating to that cause. And then I would say that the second time around, when the same person came back and said, just to check up on me — he had mentioned, “Hey, there's this foundation, and they're looking for someone that has a space background, and you have a space background. So, are you interested in potentially coming to a board meeting?” When I went and attended the board meeting as a guest, I just stared around the room, and I was just in awe, because there was Paul Kaminski, who's, to me, is one of my role models in terms of all that he's done for the country and continues to do for the country. And he was on the academic committee. And so, of course, I wanted to join the academic committee. I saw Gen. Eberhardt. I saw Gen. Born, and there were just so many amazing people, Paul Madera, that I was just in awe. And, you know, from that respect, I was like, “Sign me up. I want to be a part of this.” And I saw them and how much they cared about the Academy and the cadets and making sure that the Academy kind of stayed relevant and was giving the cadets the best education that they can to compete with the Stanfords and MITs and the Harvards, I really saw a good cause, and then the fact that they were interested in my space background. I said, “Yeah, I definitely want to be part of whatever I could do to contribute to the Air Force Academy, to graduate not only people that are going to go to the Air Force, but also to the Space Force.” And so that's something I hope to contribute to is maybe someday a future space education center at the Air Force Academy, so that the cadets could get a great education and be future leaders in the Space Force as well.   Naviere Walkewicz  46:53 Well, it certainly makes a difference. And I think I remember seeing you at that first board meeting that you participated in. I was so excited to see you. That was like, oh, '99s in the house. So that was wonderful. Yes, well, I have two questions left. The first one is, really, I want to just ask you, because we've covered so much, and you've given such wonderful, I think, advice and just perspective. But is there anything that I didn't ask you that you had wanted to, you know, talk about today?   Jason Kim  47:20 You know, I think at the end of the day, going through the Air Force Academy is extremely challenging, but after you graduate, and after you go through life experiences, all the hardships, the challenges, what I've realized is going through the Academy kind of helped me overcome what I had to overcome in my adult life and in my industry life. We didn't like it at the time but breaking you down and then building you back up and making you get up back again every time you fall down, gives you life lessons and a confidence in yourself that you can kind of do anything that you put your mind to. I really believe that the Air Force Academy kind of helped me overcome a lot of different hardships in my life. You don't really realize that going through it, but later in life, I appreciate the fact that I went there and getting through there actually gave me the confidence that I could get back up and be OK and keep growing and continuously learn and get better and improve. So that's kind of something that I could attribute to the Air Force Academy.   Naviere Walkewicz  48:49 Oh, that is awesome. And, I mean, and it's obviously taken you to new heights. Leading a corporation is no small feat. So,  one of the things we really like to do is make sure we kind of hear the takeaways, from you to our listeners. So, it's really kind of a message to them. But before we do that and get your final thoughts, I just wanted to offer a note of thanks to our listeners for being here on the Long Blue Leadership. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on all your favorite podcast apps. Be sure to send us your thoughts and comments at socialmedia@usafa.org, and listen to past episodes at longblueleadership.org  So, Jason, I want to come back to you now, because I hope that gave you a little bit of time to think about what is the message you'd like to share to our listeners. And our listeners are far and wide. We have those aspiring to go to the Academy, we have family members of cadets, and we have graduates all alike. What would you like to share when you think about kind of your experiences in the realm of leadership?   Jason Kim  49:48 To them, I think the Air Force Academy is a great place to graduate from. It's really hard to get through. So, be really proud of your sons and daughters that are going through it and persevering, and it really is a great experience for them. For those that are prospective students: You're going to get to do things that you never could do anywhere else. You know, jump out of planes fly gliders, eventually go into the Air Force or Space Force. And then for graduates, we've made so many lifelong friends, and we've made so many memories. It's something we can all do is give back, whether it's — go march back from Jacks Valley, or go to the reunion this year for our 25th reunion for the class of '99, or go to some football games. The Foundation has plenty of great, noble causes to donate to, because it's all about that Long Blue Line. We want the next set of cadets to get an even better experience in education than we did. We want to keep it going.   Naviere Walkewicz  51:12 It is always a pleasure to not only hear your voice, but today, I got to see you as well. That just brings me such joy, and I can't wait until our reunion, just in a couple of months as well. Thank you so much for your time today, Jason, it's been amazing. Lil' Kim, thank you. Bye.   KEYWORDS Jason Kim, Firefly Aerospace, Air Force Academy, immigrant parents, work ethic, space shuttle program, Gulf War, military career, pedestal effect, curiosity, compassion, trust, mutual respect, leadership, CEO, curiosity, compassion, mutual respect, electrical engineering, startup, satellites, taking risks, giving back     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

NOUVEAU - Abonnez-vous à Minuit+ pour profiter de Catastrophes - Histoires Vraies et de milliers d'autres histoires sans publicité, d'épisodes en avant-première et en intégralité. Vous aurez accès sans publicité à des dizaines de programmes passionnants comme Crimes - Histoires Vraies, Espions - Histoires Vraies ou encore Paranormal - Histoires Vraies.

First things first: today's episode is fantastic, but deals with some really heavy, difficult subject matter. Please be advised, and please take care of yourself and listen as you're able. On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into flight above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida at 11:39 a.m., killing all seven crew members aboard. This marked the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight. Not only were the families of all seven crew members watching, but so was the country and the world—the launch was broadcast live, and children across the country in particular were watching thanks to schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe being sent into space that day as a part of the Teacher In Space program. Because of this, media interest was higher than normal, and many children watched in horror as the spacecraft exploded, not understanding, and traumatized. I want to honor those seven lives lost by naming them here: F. Richard Scobee, commander; Michael J. Smith, pilot; Ronald McNair, mission specialist; Ellison Onizuka, mission specialist; Judith Resnik, mission specialist; Gregory Jarvis, payload specialist; and Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist and teacher. This crew was scheduled to deploy a communications satellite and study Halley's Comet, but never got the chance; the cause of the explosion was determined to be the failure of the primary and secondary redundant O-ring seals in a joint in the shuttle's right solid rocket booster—our guest on the show today, Adam Higginbotham, will explain that to us. The record-low temperatures on that January morning of the launch had stiffened the rubber O-rings, reducing their ability to seal the joints. After a three-month search-and recovery operation, the crew compartment, human remains, and many other fragments from the shuttle were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean floor. I talk about this with Adam today, but, while the exact timing of the deaths of the crewmembers is unknown, several crew members are thought to have survived the initial breakup of the Challenger. It is especially difficult, at least for me, to hear Adam talk about this. As a result of the Challenger disaster, NASA established the Office of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance, as well as other changes focused on safety. In his book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, which comes out tomorrow, May 14, Adam Higginbotham tells the story of the Challenger but also the arc from 1967 and the Apollo 1 cabin fire to 2003 and the Columbia disaster, 17 years after the Challenger. This is one of the best books I've ever read—full stop. The full story of what happened with the Challenger and why has never been told, until Adam's book. It is filled with extensive archival research and meticulous, original reporting about this turning point in history, which, as Adam puts it, “forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future.” Adam is a journalist who is the former U.S. correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph and former editor-in-chief of The Face. He has also served as a contributing writer for The New York Times, The New Yorker, GQ, Smithsonian, and Wired and is also the author of Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster, which came out in 2019. This is a truly harrowing and powerful conversation.   Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

Kentaro is a multimedia artist, creative director, martial artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles, CA. After studying Neuroscience at UCSD then entering into the film program at UCLA, Kentaro started his career creating content for global brands such as McDonald's, Lego, Benjamin Moore, and many others before eventually transitioning to be a children's book illustrator and brand director. He created the visual direction for the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's children's line with The Magic Tea House, and his children's illustrations have traveled across museums throughout the United States. He has been featured on NBC for his large-scale guerilla pieces, the New York Times for his mural work, and in TIME magazine, Slash Film, Forbes, Huffington Post, Men's Health, GameRant, Vice, and NPR for his films. As a martial artist, Kentaro competed internationally, fighting Muay Thai at Pattaya Stadium in Thailand and training with Judo Olympians at the Kodokan and the Japanese royal guards within the Imperial Palace. He currently remains one of the cultural ambassadors for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics. In 2015, he co-founded Neuro - a functional confectionary brand revolutionizing the consumable supplement space. With over 50 million pieces sold since Neuro's successful Indiegogo campaign, the company has been featured in TIME magazine, Dr. Oz, Forbes 30 Under 30, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed, Shark Tank, The Joe Rogan Podcast, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur magazine. It can now be found in over 12,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, Whole Foods, Erewhon, Bristol Farms, Wynn hotels and Jet Blue. Alongside his ventures, Kentaro currently paints large scale murals as both a freelance artist and a qualified muralist through the Department of Cultural Affairs. As an experiential artist, he co-designed the immersive retail experience CAMP in New York, The Sixth Collection for Jerry Lorenzo's streetwear brand Fear of God, Britney Spears' The Zone, and Diddy's 50th Birthday through okidoki, an experiential design agency he co-founded in 2018. In the digital space, he has worked alongside Clubhouse and Crypto.com to do their first NFT drop and most recently finished two 2500SQFT murals in Downtown Los Angeles celebrating Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian American astronaut in space.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:43] Intro[01:04] Redefining gum and mints with supplements[02:33] From athletes to innovators: crafting a vision[03:48] Finding a co-manufacturer in the confectionery space[04:40] From concept to creation: the R&D journey[05:51] Challenges of defining a new product category[07:43] Adding value to existing products[09:34] Seizing momentum & harnessing community support[11:36] Bootstrapping triumph: the crowdfunding journey[12:13] Building genuine community connection on Reddit[14:16] Electric Eye: Your true Shopify experts[15:13] Strategic outreach: The PR hustle[16:19] Catalyzing success: from GearDiary to Time Magazine[16:52] Authenticity in action: Sustaining the original vision[18:18] Accelerating growth by investing in talent[19:33] Prioritizing progress over perfection in hiring[20:42] Adapting to demand & managing hiring complexities[21:44] Branching out & transitioning to omnichannel[23:04] Get Neuro functional gum and mintsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeNeuro functional gum and mints neurogum.com/Follow Kent Yoshimura linkedin.com/in/kentyoshimura/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

This is part 3 and the conclusion of our interview with Travis Thompson.Travis Thompson was the former Orbital Vehicle Close-Out Lead—or OVCC—for the space shuttle at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Travis and his team assisted astronauts into the launch vehicle and were the last humans to physically be in contact with the crew prior to launch.Travis has plenty of stories to tell as I hope you appreciated from the first 2 installments of his interview!In the conclusion to our interview, Travis continues to delight us with his Shuttle stories. Be sure to listen for his recollection of Ellison Onizuka and John Young, along with a few other entertaining anecdotes. Please kindly note that we recorded our interview with Travis via phone, so the audio quality is not pristine. However, we have done our best to clean it up, so we appreciate your indulgence while listening.

This week's episode is in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Hannah shares legends of Guam, Lori covers astronaut Ellison Onizuka, and Sheena discusses pioneering Chinese-American chef and business woman Joyce Chen.

The New Guys by Meredith BagbyI am delighted to welcome author and space historian Meredith Bagby to our show today. Meredith has just released her latest book, "THE NEW GUYS: The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel". In this captivating work, Meredith delves into the story of the first class of civilian astronauts for the space shuttle, and their enduring impact on the American space program.The first class of civilian astronauts for the Space Shuttle program was selected in 1978, as part of NASA's effort to diversify the astronaut corps and bring in more non-military personnel. The class included two women, Sally Ride and Judith Resnik, as well as three men, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, and Gregory Jarvis. The civilian astronauts brought a range of expertise to the space program, from physics and engineering to medicine and social sciences. Their selection marked an important shift in the space program, demonstrating NASA's commitment to opening up space travel to a broader range of Americans. Tragically, two members of the class, Resnik and Onizuka, were among the crew of the Challenger space shuttle that was lost in the 1986 explosion, underscoring the risks and challenges of space exploration. However, their legacy lives on, inspiring new generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.As a historian and expert on space exploration, Meredith's research and insights are second to none. Her book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of space travel, and for those who are inspired by the courage and determination of the early pioneers of spaceflight. 

This episode is dedicated to the men and woman of the Space Shuttle Challenger who left this earth on January 28, 1986. We talk about Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space, the Activision game that attempted to give 80s space kids a taste of flying on the shuttle. The world misses you Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/intheshadeofan80sarcade/support

Mike Kai is a pastor, leadership expert and host of the Pound for Pound Leader podcast. From humble + challenging beginnings, Mike learned firsthand that in order to lead a team, cultivating a healthy culture is key. Whether you're leading a small family or large company, today's conversation will help you practice excellence (not perfection!), move forward with intention and build sustainable change in order to leave a lasting legacy. Join us to learn real-life examples and practical principles that will inspire you to grow in any season of life and be reminded that the best of our days remain ahead. SHOW NOTES: The only astronaut from Hawaii, Ellison Onizuka, inspired Mike to pursue his dream to be a fighter pilot. Mike's kuleana: After learning he was becoming a young father, Mike abandoned his dream to provide for his family, losing sight of his purpose.  How Mike grew during a turbulent season: Discovered a relationship with God, cultivating self-worth and pursued a purpose, read dozens of books including Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino, and Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do by Robert Schuller. Believe in hope. Mike's pain turned into anger as he developed homicidal + suicidal thoughts. Mike's advice from 28 years of marriage: Forgive quickly and freely, fight for unity and continue to date one another. To lead a team of any size, Mike builds like Soloman and sees like Sheba. Build better to finish better. Excellence is an accelerator, elevator, separator, and income generator. "Sometimes excellence gets a bad rap because people think it's another word for perfection, but it's not. Excellence is doing the very best you can with what you've been given."  Learn more about Mike Kai, including his Pound for Pound Leadership Podcast here. Get a copy of Mike Kai's book It Doesn't Just Happen here. If you enjoyed this episode... You'll love my conversation with Seth Godin. As a 20-time bestselling author, distinguished speaker and shares brilliant insights on life, success, failure, and the “audacity to settle for anything less than remarkable”. Listen to the ep. 356 Seth Godin now. MIKE KAI'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you've ever read? A. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Curiosity. Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A. As many photo albums as I can. Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? A. Coach John Wooden and Reverend Titus Cohen who pastored in Hawaii from 1840s-1870s and ask how the revival happen. Q. What is the best advice you've ever received? A. My pastor told me, "Don't buy the brand new car. Pay cash for everything. Save your money for a house." Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. Don't be so emotional and be run by your feelings. Q. It's been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? A. Whoever he was with, wherever he was, he loved people to the fullest.

Thirty-five years ago the space shuttle, Challenger malfunctioned on lift-off. Millions of American school children watched as the event happened live. I was not one of them, but I remember the exact moment my fourth-grade teacher told me of the disaster. It is a day I will never forget. I tell that story in this lesson in slow, easy to understand English to help you improve your English Comprehension. In addition to story telling, I also mention some English phrasal verbs like blast off and lift off and talk about some American English vocabulary words recess and attempted assassination. Remembering Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Mike Smith, and Ellison Onizuka.

Dans les années 80, Judith Resnik vit son rêve. Elle est astronaute pour la Nasa et la deuxième femme américaine à s'être rendue dans l'espace. En janvier 1986, elle embarque à bord de la navette Challenger avec le reste de l'équipage.Cette femme moderne sera l'une des victimes de la tristement mémorable explosion de Challenger. Cet épisode de Chasseurs de science vous propose de revivre ce tragique épisode de l'histoire de l'aérospatiale aux côtés de Judith.Pour aller plus loin :28 janvier 1986 : explosion de la navette spatiale ChallengerIna : il y a 25 ans, la navette Challenger explosaitLe 12 avril 1981, premier vol d'une navetteColumbia : toutes les leçons n'auraient pas été tirées après ChallengerDécouvrez le documentaire de la chaîne Stardust sur le drame de Challenger.Rendez-vous sur CielMania pour y lire l'article de Jean-Baptiste Feldmann sur le mémorial lunaire créé en hommage à ces astronautes.Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out.Transcription du podcast :Bienvenue dans Chasseurs de science, un podcast produit par Futura. Je suis Julie et je serai votre guide temporelle au cours de cette excursion. Aujourd'hui, nous partons pour le pas de lancement de la navette Challenger, en Floride. Vous écoutez Chasseurs de science, si ce podcast vous plaît, n'hésitez pas à nous soutenir en le partageant sur les réseaux sociaux et en nous laissant une note sur les plateformes de diffusion.En janvier 1978, Judith Resnik a 29 ans et elle vient de recevoir une nouvelle qui va bouleverser sa vie : elle est sélectionnée pour devenir astronaute pour la Nasa parmi plusieurs milliers de candidats. Elle prévient immédiatement ses parents Marvin et Sarah, tout deux immigrants d'Ukraine. Tout sourit à Judith. L'année précédente, elle a obtenu un doctorat en génie électrique et elle occupe un poste d'ingénieur à l'Institut national de la santé à Bethesda. Devenir l'une des premières femmes astronautes, c'est juste incroyable !Après l'annonce de sa sélection, Judith intègre un programme d'entraînement qui lui permet de devenir spécialiste de mission. À ce poste, elle sera en charge d'une partie bien précise des missions scientifiques que devront réaliser les astronautes une fois dans l'espace. Six ans après son entrée à la Nasa, Judith prend part à la mission Discovery. Elle est la seule femme de son équipage.Le 30 août 1984, alors que la navette décolle du pas de tir 39A du Kennedy Space Center à Cap Canaveral, elle sait que son nom marquera l'histoire avec un grand H. En effet, à ce moment-là, elle devient la deuxième femme américaine à rejoindre l'espace, et seulement la quatrième au niveau international, après deux astronautes russes et sa compatriote Sally Ride.Elle expérimente alors la sensation indescriptible d'impesanteur, voit ses cheveux flotter autour de sa tête et tous les outils qu'elle manipule ne jamais retomber sur le sol. À bord de Discovery, une image de Judith fera le tour du monde. Devant les caméras, elle brandit un carton où elle avait inscrit « Hi Dad ! » (« Salut, Papa ! »), en sachant pertinemment que son père suivait avec attention ses aventures spatiales.Après le succès du premier vol de Discovery, Judith intègre immédiatement un autre programme ambitieux de la Nasa : STS 51-L Challenger. La mission doit se dérouler comme suit. Le premier matin sera dédié à la préparation de la mise en orbite du satellite TDRS-B ; l'après-midi à son déploiement. Le deuxième jour, le programme de suivi de la comète Halley débute et Christa McAuliffe, deuxième femme de l'équipage et institutrice tiendra le premier cours donné depuis l'espace à des enfants. Les jours 3, 4 et 5 seront destinés à la mise en orbite du satellite Spartan. Judith est en charge de manier le bras robotique de la navette pour le déployer. Enfin, le retour de l'équipage est prévu 144 heures et 34 minutes après leur départ.Tout est organisé au millimètre. Judith et ses collègues connaissent par coeur les gestes et les procédures pour faire face à toutes les situations. Malheureusement, rien ne va se passer comme prévu.Dès le lancement, la 25e mission de Challenger accumule les couacs. Le 22 janvier 1986 à 15h43, sur le pas de tir B, tout est prêt pour le décollage. Mais la météo fait des siennes. On reprogramme le lancement le 23, puis le 24 janvier. Challenger est toujours clouée au sol. Le 25 janvier, c'est une tempête de l'autre côté de l'Atlantique qui empêche le départ. Le mauvais temps atteint la Floride, repoussant encore le lancement. La tension est palpable entre les astronautes. Arriveront-ils à décoller un jour ? Une nouvelle date est planifiée : le 27 janvier 1986 à 9h37. Repoussée encore. Cette fois-ci, c'est une trappe qui refuse de se fermer.Finalement, la navette Challenger décolle le 28 janvier 1986 à 11h38, soit 2 heures après l'heure prévue. Un logiciel qui pilote le système anti-incendie connaît une panne alors qu'on remplit les réservoirs externes d'hydrogène liquide, avant le départ. Dans le cockpit, Judith et le reste de l'équipage échangent un regard. Challenger quitte enfin le sol de la Floride et son funeste destin est scellé.Seulement 0.678 secondes après le décollage, les spectateurs au sol voient une inquiétante fumée grise s'échapper de l'arrière du fuselage. Le père et le frère de Judith sont présents. Entre 0,836 et 2,5 secondes, la fumée se fait plus dense. La navette prend de la vitesse et rencontre ses premiers vents de haute altitude à 37 secondes. En réponse au cisaillement du vent, le système de navigation augmente la puissance des propulseurs pour maintenir la direction de la navette.58 secondes. Une petite flamme apparaît. Elle grandit rapidement et l'ordinateur de bord alerte sur la diminution de la pression dans le propulseur droit. De toute évidence, il fuit. À l'intérieur, l'équipage surentraîné est prisonnier. Les sept astronautes n'ont aucun moyen de sortir de Challenger. La navette n'est pas équipée de sièges éjectables et la présence d'un système d'évacuation a été jugée « d'une utilité limitée ».À 64 secondes, le feu change de couleur, signe que l'hydrogène s'est mêlé aux flammes. L'ordinateur de bord tente de mettre fin au drame qui se joue, en vain. 73 secondes. Le réservoir d'hydrogène liquide perd son dôme et plus de 1.200 tonnes de carburant alimentent le brasier. En un battement de cil, Challenger explose à 46.000 pieds d'altitude dans le ciel de Cap Canaveral. La navette se désintègre dans une boule de feu entourée d'une fumée brune sous les yeux horrifiés du personnel de la Nasa, des spectateurs et de la famille et des amis de l'équipage.Judith Resnik, spécialiste de mission,Christa McAuliffe, spécialiste des charges utiles,Gregory Jarvis, spécialiste des charges utiles,Francis Scobee, commandant,Ronald McNair, spécialiste de mission,Ellison Onizuka, spécialiste de mission,et Michael Smith, pilote, ont disparu en même temps que Challenger. Les restes de la navette spatiale finissent leur course dans l'océan à 334 km/h, emportant avec eux tout espoir de retrouver des survivants. La Nasa lance immédiatement une mission pour récupérer les débris de la navette et d'éventuels restes humains. Le corps de Judith est le premier retrouvé au milieu des décombres. Elle n'avait que 36 ans.Devant son écran de télévision, sa mère, Sarah, a vu l'explosion. Elle se rend chez une voisine en criant : « Ils sont morts là-haut. Ils sont morts, ils sont morts ! » La nuit du drame, le président Ronald Reagan rend hommage aux victimes lors d'un discours devant le Congrès. Trois jours après, une cérémonie nationale, retransmise en direct, se tient au Centre spatial de Houston en présence de plus de 10.000 personnes.Une commission chargée d'enquêter sur les circonstances de l'accident est créée par le président américain. Richard Feynman en est l'un des membres les plus célèbres. Il remarque que les estimations de fiabilité communiquées par la Nasa étaient irréalistes et divergeaient totalement de celles faites par les ingénieurs. Il déclare alors : « Pour qu'une technologie soit couronnée de succès, la réalité doit prendre le dessus sur les relations publiques, car on ne peut pas tromper la Nature. »L'enquête n'a pas permis d'établir avec certitude les causes de la mort de l'équipage. Le rapport émet l'hypothèse, sans assurance, que les astronautes auraient perdu conscience peu avant l'explosion. Judith Resnik et ses collègues deviennent alors des héros, mais ils étaient avant tout des femmes et des hommes avec des amis, une famille et des collègues qui se souviennent d'eux.Michael Coates, pilote sur la première mission de la navette Discovery, se rappelle de Judith – ou Judy, comme ses proches l'appelaient – en ces termes : « C'était quelqu'un qui comptait beaucoup. Elle vivait, travaillait et s'amusait intensément. Elle n'était pas parfaite, elle était têtue, et elle devait toujours avoir son mot à dire. Mais à la fin d'un dispute, elle souriait et c'était tout. On se sentait à l'aise avec elle. À bien des égards, c'était une astronaute idéale. Elle laissera un grand vide. »Merci d'avoir écouté Chasseurs de science. La musique de cet épisode a été composée par Patricia Chaylade. Au texte et à la narration : Julie Kern. Merci à Vincent Heidelberg, qui prête sa voix à Michael Coates. Rendez-vous sur sa chaîne Youtube Stardust pour y découvrir son documentaire consacré à l'histoire de Challenger.Si vous appréciez notre travail, n‘hésitez pas à nous laisser un commentaire et cinq étoiles sur les plateformes de diffusion pour nous soutenir et améliorer notre visibilité. Vous pouvez aussi vous abonner sur Spotify, Deezer et Apple Podcast pour ne plus manquer un seul épisode. Quant à moi, je vous retrouverai bientôt pour une future expédition temporelle dans Chasseurs de science. À bientôt ! Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out.

Next up, we talk about a new 4-episode limited series from Netflix: Challenger – The Final Flight Created by Steven Leckart and Glen Zipper Challenger: The Final Flight Synopsis: A 4-part limited series that covers the tragic loss of the shuttle Challenger in 1986, with an emphasis on the crew’s stories, leading up to the … Continue reading Challenger: The Final Flight

Join us as we delve into the tragic events surrounding the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. This episode explores the causes behind the national tragedy that shocked America in the '80s. Despite meticulous checks by NASA, what led to this catastrophic failure? Listen to learn about the risks astronauts face in their pursuit of space exploration, and how NASA honors the seven crewmembers who lost their lives on January 28, 1986: Francis 'Dick' Scobee, Mike Smith, Judy Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Ron McNair, Greg Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. #SpaceShuttleChallenger #NASA #WeirdHistory #Challengerdisaster #spaceexploration #astronauts #nationaltragedy #1980s #Francis'Dick'Scobee #MikeSmith #JudyResnik #EllisonOnizuka #RonMcNair #GregJarvis #ChristaMcAuliffe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes for Lance Bush In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Challenger Centers use space-themed simulated learning and role-playing strategies to help students bring their classroom studies to life and cultivate skills needed for future success, such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork. A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, Challenger Center reaches hundreds of thousands of students, and tens of thousands of teachers every year. In his own words, Challenger Center CEO Lance Bush explains what a Challenger Center is, and how each center provides inspiration, in memory and in celebration of the Challenger crew, to students all over the world. With over 40 Challenger Centers throughout the United States and in 4 countries around the world, more than 5 million students have been encouraged and inspired to pursue STEM careers. Students who attend range from pre-K up to adult, but focus mainly on middle school students. When a student attends a center, they have to work together as a team and as individuals to “overcome anomalies” during their “missions” in order to achieve success… Alumni often write to the centers sharing their professional STEM career success based on their experiences that began at a Challenger Center. Some alumni are part of the biggest space companies in the US including Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, and NASA, and they pay it back- even as young professionals- come back to volunteer at their local Challenger Centers to impact future generations. Christa McAuliffe’s lesson plans (Teacher in Space Mission) were recently flown on board the International Space Station, where NASA Astronauts Ricky Arnold and Joe Acaba completed her lessons, filmed them and are now currently available to download and implement for any classroom! https://www.challenger.org/challenger_lessons/christas-lost-lessons/   Key Takeaways: You never know where inspiration can be found for young students, who may be the next people on the Moon and Mars. The impact of the Challenger crew; Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith and Ellison Onizuka continues through the work of the Challenger Center. Classroom Adventures take the mission experience from the Challenger Centers and bring them directly into the classroom, and will be available in 2020! https://www.challenger.org/what-we-do/#classroomAdventures    “I think I have one of the best jobs in the world, all because we (the Challenger Center team and staff) get to see the mission fly, and experience seeing the students come out of a mission high-fiving,  then hearing teachers say they’re much more motivated and engaged in the related STEM topics presented in the classroom as a result” -Lance Bush, Challenger Center CEO   About The Challenger Center(s): About Challenger Center As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides more than 260,000 students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, increase engagement in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L.   Casual Space Show BONUS Links & Resources:  Website: Challenger.org Facebook: @ChallengerCtr Twitter: @ChallengerCtr Christa’s Lessons: Challenger.org/christa STEM Resources: Challenger.org/stem-resources

Keone Young is an actor and voice actor, best known for his roles as Storm Shadow in the G.I. Joe Animated Series, Mr. Wu in HBO’s Deadwood, Jun Sato in Star Wars Rebels, Silver Samurai in Wolverine and the X-Men, Kaz Harada in Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi, Dr. Hido Takahashi in HBO’s True Blood, Grandpa in American Dragon: Jake Long, Mr. Sanban in Codename: Kids Next Door, Jeong Jeong in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hard Master in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Mr. Wu in Nickelodeon’s The Mighty B!, and multiple appearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Enterprise. Some of Keone’s other credits include appearances as Henry Lin’s Uncle in Sons of Anarchy, Mr. Wu in Men in Black 3, Ellison Onizuka in Challenger, Dr. Michael Kwan in Kay O’Brien, Governor Ho in North, Babaram in Surf Ninjas, Marshall Kai Ti Chang in Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, Sensei in Young Justice, and Chen Stormstout in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. Keone has been prolific in his character work and has made numerous guest appearances on such varied television series as Diff’rent Strokes, The Golden Girls, Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Family Matters, Futurama, The Simpsons, Alias, JAG, The Steve Harvey Show, Zeke and Luther, Shake It Up: Made In Japan, and on the daytime soaps The Young and the Restless and Generations. He also portrayed the bodyguard of the Ancient One (Keye Luke) during the Asian Quarter storyline on General Hospital.

点击每期节目可以看到具体文稿内容Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we've never lost an astronaut in flight. We've never had a tragedy like this.And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.We mourn their loss as a nation together.For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, "Give me a challenge, and I'll meet it with joy." They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's take-off. I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them.I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program. And what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue.I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA, or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."There's a coincidence today. On this day three hundred and ninety years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, "He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it." Well, today, we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."Thank you.968重庆之声每周一至周五8点56分每天三分钟养成良好英语听说习惯

Southern Sense is a show of conservative talk on news and events, with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis as host and Curtis "CS" Bennett, co-host.  Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey!  Visit our website at http://www.Southern-Sense.com, become a member and follow us here and on Facebook. Ret. Colonel James Harding who is one of the most decorated military leaders and pilots of our time and we are honored to welcome him. He is a board member of the Veterans Council of the United States Patriots Union.  Bio http://www.veterandefenders.org/ Obama Impeachment http://cactn.weebly.com/ Herbert I. London is President Emeritus of Hudson Institute. He served as the Institute's President from December 1997 to March 2011. He is professor emeritus and the former John M. Olin Professor of Humanities at New York University.  http://www.herblondon.org/ Dedication: To the crew of the Space Shuttle Challanger who died when it exploded shortly after lift-off on January 28, 1986.  Pilot Michael J. Smith, Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, and mission specialist Ronald E. McNair. Rear left are mission specialist Ellison Onizuka, teacher Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist Gregory Jarvis, and mission specialist Judith Resnik.

Southern Sense is a show of conservative talk on news and events, with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis as host and Curtis "CS" Bennett, co-host.  Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey!  Visit our website at http://www.Southern-Sense.com, become a member and follow us here and on Facebook.Ret. Colonel James Harding who is one of the most decorated military leaders and pilots of our time and we are honored to welcome him. He is a board member of the Veterans Council of the United States Patriots Union.  Biohttp://www.veterandefenders.org/Obama Impeachment http://cactn.weebly.com/Herbert I. London is President Emeritus of Hudson Institute. He served as the Institute's President from December 1997 to March 2011. He is professor emeritus and the former John M. Olin Professor of Humanities at New York University.  http://www.herblondon.org/Dedication: To the crew of the Space Shuttle Challanger who died when it exploded shortly after lift-off on January 28, 1986.  Pilot Michael J. Smith, Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, and mission specialist Ronald E. McNair. Rear left are mission specialist Ellison Onizuka, teacher Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist Gregory Jarvis, and mission specialist Judith Resnik.

The Challenger Seven are... alive?! Join 13-year-old Norm Scott in this live news report.