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.com
- Leland Melvin: STEAM & Education Overview
- Book: "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.
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FAQs
How do I book Leland Melvin for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Leland Melvin 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 Leland Melvin's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Leland Melvin’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Leland Melvin in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Leland Melvin's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Leland Melvin's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Leland Melvin, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Leland Melvin's speaking fee?
Leland Melvin's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Leland Melvin'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 Leland Melvin's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Leland Melvin as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Leland Melvin as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Leland Melvin'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 Leland Melvin's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Leland Melvin for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Leland Melvin speaking engagements.
Official contact for Leland Melvin bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/leland-melvin
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Leland Melvin.
Is Leland Melvin available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Leland Melvin speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Leland Melvin'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 Leland Melvin's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Leland Melvin's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Leland Melvin for?
Book Leland Melvin for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Leland Melvin 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
Leland Melvin engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Leland Melvin can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Leland Melvin booking information and availability
Check Leland Melvin'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 Leland Melvin for your preferred event date.
Book Leland Melvin keynote speaker through CAA
Book Leland Melvin through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Leland Melvin, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Leland Melvin's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Leland Melvin for your next event.
Will Leland Melvin speak at private events?
Yes, Leland Melvin 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 Leland Melvin's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Leland Melvin?
CAA Speakers responds to Leland Melvin 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 Leland Melvin?
Book Leland Melvin 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 Leland Melvin pricing information?
Get Leland Melvin 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.