Alumni Update Cadets on America's Space Program

Jose Joaquin Matienzo, who was Salutato rian of the Lyman Ward Class of 1979, presented a highly informative program on the nation’s space program in an assembly held in the Smith Auditorium on April 19.

Matienzo is a senior design engineer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Huntsville, AL.  He explained NASA’s vision “to improve life here, to extend life to there, and to find life beyond.”  He told cadets that NASA’s current mission is “to understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; and to inspire the next generation of explorers, as only NASA can.”

The hour-long presentation featured an impressive multi-media demonstration of a flight in space.  Matienzo, who assists in training astronauts in underwater maneuvers, explained the rigors of space flight and the complexities of pulling off a successful mission, from the beginning planning stages to a safe return home.

Matienzo’s presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session with the cadets.

Senior Ben Gardner said the presentation was “extremely interesting.  It impressed me that one of our Lyman Ward graduates is in the inner circle of the nation’s space program.”

Matienzo, a native of Puerto Rico, served on the Academy Color Guard and played basketball and baseball when he was a student here.  An aerospace engineering graduate of The University of Alabama, Matienzo resides in Huntsville with his wife and children.