Astronaut & Space Thought Leader
Leland Melvin: Biography at a Glance
- Leland Melvin is a space thought leader, astronaut, engineer, educator, and former NFL wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.
- Leland is the first person drafted into the National Football League to have also flown in space.
- He was featured on National Geographic's One Strange Rock, hosted by Will Smith, where he explained how his brain repaired itself after an injury that left him deaf and almost stopped him from ever going to space.
- Even after being medically disqualified to fly in space by NASA flight surgeons, Leland completed two Space Shuttle missions to help build the International Space Station.
- Leland served as the co-chair of the White House's Federal Coordination in STEM Education Task Force, developing the nation's 5-year plan for STEM education.
- His memoir, Chasing Space, shares his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars, examining the intersecting roles of community, perseverance, and grace that align to create opportunities for success.
- Leland served as a consultant on National Geographic's second season of Mars.
Media
LelandMelvin.comLeland Melvin: STEAM & Education OverviewBook: "Chasing Space"TED: "Leland Melvin - An astronaut's story of curiosity, perspective and change"Video: "Former astronaut Leland Melvin talks teamwork and talent"The Ringer: "The Modern-Day Renaissance Man"Huffington Post: "He Observed The Earth From Space. Now He’s Trying To Protect I...The Moth Radio Hour: "Leland Melvin suffers a devastating injury that cuts short...Pure Accelerate: "Different Views Encourage Innovation with Leland Melvin"
Videos
Biography
Leland Melvin is an engineer, educator, former NASA astronaut, and NFL wide receiver. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on missions STS-122 (2008) and STS-129 (2009), helping to construct the International Space Station.
Upon hanging up his space boots, he led NASA Education and co-chaired the White House’s Federal Coordination in STEAM Education Task Force, developing the nation’s 5-year STEM education plan.
After 24 years with NASA as a researcher, astronaut, and Senior Executive Service leader, he shares his life story as an athlete, astronaut, scientist, engineer, photographer, and musician to help inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue STEAM careers.
Leland holds five honorary doctorates for his service in education, the sciences, and philanthropy.
Leland released his memoir, Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances. In it, Leland shares his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars and examines the intersecting roles of community, perseverance, and grace that align to create the opportunities for success.
Topics
Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances
Leland looks back on his uncommon life — he was the first person in human history to catch a pass in the NFL and walk in space. Leland will examine his life through the prism of success and achievement. How did he succeed where he rightly should have failed? What motivated him to overcome injuries, setbacks, expulsions, and debilitating deafness? Leland will not only recount his path with honesty and curiosity, but he will also mine the latest thinking by researchers, authors, and academics, applying their work to his own life – and by extension giving the audience applicable takeaways.
