From the Classroom to the Stars: One Alumnus’ Path to NASA
“The thing I appreciate most about my time at Waukee was that I was allowed to grow in and out of the classroom,” 2018 Waukee graduate Jack Sieleman says.
During his time at Waukee Community School District (CSD), Jack took two APEX classes, Next Generation Energy and Engineering Technology & Robotics. That was just the beginning of what led him to work at one of the most prestigious space engineering agencies in the world, NASA.
Jack’s Time at Waukee CSD
“I was very involved with elective engineering classes and the APEX program, but I also enjoyed theater production, where I spent three years working on the light and sound crews. Waukee is full of opportunities that I encourage students to take advantage of,” Jack says.
He found himself most inspired by doing hands-on work for realistic projects and is grateful he was given that chance by APEX instructor Tyler Wright. Wright was a primary mentor in Jack’s engineering career throughout high school and helped him gain exposure to different industries.
“While not in the engineering world, Nate Jorgensen, theatre instructor, was another great mentor to me. Both Wright and Jorgensen were a valuable part of my Waukee career. Overall, I grew a lot as a student and person in high school thanks to the many friends I met and groups/activities I was involved in.”
Building up Jack’s resumé
After graduation, Jack went to the University of Iowa, where he studied mechanical engineering.
“I was always interested in aerodynamics and rocket engines, which became a large focus of the project work I was doing for classes. I spent my senior year designing the structure and aerodynamic mechanisms for a 3D-printed competition rocket,” he says.
Jack also found other ways to get involved at Iowa outside of the classroom.
“I was involved with Iowa’s branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), where I was the club’s vice president and project design lead. I was also very involved with Dance Marathon and served on the leadership team my last two years.”
With his leadership experience through AIAA and Dance Marathon, Jack earned an internship at Collins Aerospace in the Mission Systems division where he worked with general, military, and defense aviation systems.
“I graduated from the University of Iowa in May 2022 and joined NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate (aka Mission Control) in June 2022.”
Making Strides at NASA
As a part of the Mission Control team, Jack is a Propulsion Systems Flight Controller, where he helps plan, train, and execute human spaceflight missions.
“I specifically support the Orion and Space Launch System (SLS) vehicles for NASA’s Artemis program. For those missions, I am responsible for the mission design and operation of the engines from when the rocket leaves the ground until it returns to Earth.”
His team helps train astronauts so they can be acquainted with the spacecraft they will be flying.
“Outside of Mission Control, we spend lots of time working with NASA Engineering and Contracting companies to develop flight techniques and how we can best fly the vehicle when we get into space.”
As Jack gets more involved at NASA, his future looks bright.
“The next step for me is to complete my flight controller certification so I can become a flight control team member, which is a huge milestone for me. Beyond that, I eventually want to pursue my master’s degree in engineering, but it’s a bit far off in my future to work towards right now.”
Jack’s Advice for future students
“Take any opportunities to learn from people further ahead than you on similar paths. Time is valuable and should only be spent on things and people that are important to you.”
He recommends finding projects that interest you that don’t have to be associated with a class, job, or internship. It’s the best way to grow personally and professionally.
“We only grow by facing and battling challenges, but looking back on those battles from my seat in mission control, I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than space or engineering with my life.”
Jack says he has had opportunities to mentor young students and aspiring engineers, so if anyone is interested in spaceflight, engineering, or aerospace, he is always available and can be connected with through LinkedIn.
Do you have a great alumni story to share? Send us information by emailing info@waukeeschools.org.
