Jun 4, 2022
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Today we have a Combat Story first with our first Astronaut who
spent over 377 days in space and completed 10 spacewalks (where
he’s actually out in space in nothing but his suit): Chris Cassidy.
Before he joined NASA, Chris was a Navy SEAL and was one of the
very first sent into Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11.
There’s very little Chris has not accomplished. He attended the US
Naval Academy, received a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has two
Honorary PhD's.
As a SEAL, Chris earned a Bronze Star with Valor and a Presidential
Unit Citation for combat in Afghanistan. He was NASA’s 14th Chief
Astronaut, which is the head of NASA’s Astronaut Corps and is the
principal advisor to the NASA Administrator on astronaut training
and operations.
Chris is incredibly humble given his accomplishments and it’s no
surprise he is now President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor
Museum Foundation, where he’s leading efforts to build out an
iconic Museum for MOH recipients, a Leadership Institute, and a
Monument on the National Mall.
I hope you enjoy this view from Space from such a down to Earth man
as much as I did. Special thanks to previous guests Darrell Utt and
Mike Hayes who helped us connect with Chris.
Find Chris Online:
-Instagram @astro_seal
-Instagram @mohmuseum
-MOH Museum Donation www.mohmuseum.org/donate
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-Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes:
0:00 - Intro
1:05 - Guest Introduction (Chris Cassidy)
2:31 - Interview begins
8:10 - Childhood and interest in military
19:18 - Path to SEAL Teams
25:20 - About his first SEAL Team, an underwater vehicle team
29:30 - Where he was when 911 happened and how SEAL Team 3
reposnded
38:19 - Combat Story - First time leading troops into an
engagement
42:07 - Combat Story - Aha moment while on a mission in the caves
of Afghan-Pakistan border
46:56 - Team dynamics in a small unit like a SEAL Team
52:09 - Leadership and the danger of complacency and
overconfidence
54:24 - Transition to NASA
1:04:53 - First flight expereince as an astronaut
1:13:15 - First spacewalk experience
1:17:56 - Story of a hairy experience during a spacewalk
mission
1:30:14 - Feeling privileged to do the work and the long-term
fatigue that can happen
1:31:53 - National Medal of Honor Museum
1:40:56 - Dealing with setbacks along his path
1:43:05 - What did you carry into combat/space?
1:44:21 - Would you do it again?
1:45:46 - Listener comments and shout outs