Astronaut Eileen Collins Featured on SAME’s “Real TiME Podcast”

Renowned astronaut and 2017 JETC Keynote Speaker, Col. Eileen Collins, USAF (Ret.), the first woman to command an American Spacecraft, recently joined SAME Executive Director Joe Schroedel on SAME’s Real TiME Podcast ahead of her address at the upcoming JETC, which is being held May 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio.

Collins touches on a number of topics—including how she got into flying; inspiring kids to pursue engineering; the importance of professionalism; following your dreams; and what she was thinking about before commanding Space Shuttle Discovery’s “Return to Flight” mission in 2005.

Below is an excerpt from the interview….

I saved up the money [$1,000], 20 years old, between my junior and senior year in college. I went to my local airport and asked them to teach me how to fly. And I learned after that first couple of flights that is what I wanted to do for a career. The fact that it led into the Space Program was not a coincidence. Because I think, tied in with my interest in flying, was also my interest in space.”

To hear the full podcast with Eileen Collins, listen on SoundCloud, or you can listen on iTunes.

TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM MEMBERS

SAME launched the Real TiME Podcast in fall 2016 to highlight the work of members and partners in strengthening the engineering potential of the United States and in achieving the goals and objectives of the 2020 SAME Strategic Plan. It is an extension of the Real TiME e-newsletter, which debuted in spring 2016 as a way to capture a lot of news and notes from across the Society.

We wanted to create a way to hear directly from members. The guests featured on the Real TiME Podcast to date represent members and partners from both inside and outside SAME. Episodes are about 20 minutes. Have a listen at your desk or in your car today!

• Col. Barry Totten, USA (Ret.), on how the Tennessee Valley Post was founded.
• Cindy Lincicome on growing your career by engaging with a professional society.
  
• Bob Sidoti on the opportunities to make an impact through local Post involvement.
  
• Mercedes Enrique, a small business owner, on the importance of open interaction with federal agencies.
  
• Capt. Mike Blount, USN (Ret.), SAME President, on SAME’s national direction and future strategy towards 2020.
• Todd Wang of Bridges to Prosperity, on how engineers are making a difference in developing countries.
  
• Bruce D’Agostino of CMAA, on how SAME members can take advantage of our strategic partnership.
  
• Jim Hagan and Gary Gordon on the role SAME can play locally and nationally in supporting resilience solutions.
• Karen Buniak and Amy Basehoar, of the Philadelphia Post, check in from the 2017 Symposium on Design & Construction Issues at Hazardous Waste Sites.
• Col. Blair Schantz, USA (Ret.), live from Qatar on opportunities the SAME International Committee is creating to support members overseas.

Have an idea for a member who should be featured? Email editor@same.org.