Former NASA Astronaut Danny Olivas to Speak During Hispanic Heritage Event at NASA Marshall Center

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month Oct. 12, hosting the program “Innovations that Embraced, Enriched, and Enabled America” in Morris Auditorium, Building 4200 at 10 a.m. CDT.

John “Danny” Olivas, former NASA astronaut and veteran of two space shuttle missions, will give the keynote address. Interviews with the media will be available from 9-9:15 a.m. Olivas serves as director of the Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance at the University of Texas, El Paso, and is an award-winning publisher of children’s books. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and materials science from Rice University in Houston.

Also speaking will be Michael Tinker, Marshall’s acting chief technologist; Paul McConnaughey, associate director, technical, supporting Marshall’s Office of the Center Director; and Loucious Hires, director of Marshall’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, honoring the cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors originated from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

News media interested in attending should contact Angela Storey in Marshall’s Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 11.