Former NASA Astronaut
José Hernandez: Biography at a Glance
- 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 is the founder of Tierra Luna Engineering, a consulting firm dedicated to providing an innovative approach on aerospace, advanced technologies, and education outreach while also providing turnkey solutions to increasing manufacturing capabilities in a sustainable and cost effective manner.
- Hernandez has received two NASA Service Awards and seven honorary degrees, among other honors.
Biography
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," 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. He was selected to begin training as a mission specialist as part of the 2004 astronaut candidate class.
One of four children in a migrant farming family from Mexico, Hernandez --who didn't learn English until he was 12 years old -- spent much of his childhood on what he calls "the California circuit," traveling with his family from Mexico to southern California each March, then working northward to the Stockton area by November, picking strawberries and cucumbers at farms along the route. Then they would return to Mexico for Christmas, and start the cycle all over again come spring.
"Some kids might think it would be fun to travel like that," Hernandez laughs, "but we had to work. It wasn't a vacation."
After graduating high school in Stockton, Hernandez enrolled at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering and was awarded a full scholarship to the graduate program at the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he continued his engineering studies. In 1987, he accepted a full-time job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he had worked as a co-op in college.
While at Lawrence Livermore, Hernandez worked on signal and image processing applications in radar imaging, computed tomography, and acoustic imaging. Later in his career, Hernandez worked on developing quantitative x-ray film imaging analysis techniques for the x-ray laser program. Hernandez applied these techniques in the medical physics arena and co-developed the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. 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!"
FAQs
How do I book José Hernandez for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book José Hernandez to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is José Hernandez's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for José Hernandez’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all José Hernandez in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact José Hernandez's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check José Hernandez's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list José Hernandez, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is José Hernandez's speaking fee?
José Hernandez's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, José Hernandez's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for José Hernandez's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book José Hernandez as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book José Hernandez as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- José Hernandez's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for José Hernandez's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact José Hernandez for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all José Hernandez speaking engagements.
Official contact for José Hernandez bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jose-hernandez
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking José Hernandez.
Is José Hernandez available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, José Hernandez speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
José Hernandez's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining José Hernandez's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for José Hernandez's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book José Hernandez for?
Book José Hernandez for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. José Hernandez customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
José Hernandez engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how José Hernandez can customize their presentation for your specific event.
José Hernandez booking information and availability
Check José Hernandez's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure José Hernandez for your preferred event date.
Book José Hernandez keynote speaker through CAA
Book José Hernandez through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for José Hernandez, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to José Hernandez's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
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- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book José Hernandez for your next event.
Will José Hernandez speak at private events?
Yes, José Hernandez speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for José Hernandez's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking José Hernandez?
CAA Speakers responds to José Hernandez booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book José Hernandez?
Book José Hernandez 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get José Hernandez pricing information?
Get José Hernandez pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.