NASA engineer Jose Hernandez wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space. "I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, Calif., and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps," says Hernandez, who was a senior in high school at the time. "I was already interested in science and engineering," Hernandez remembers, "but that was the moment I said, 'I want to fly in space.' And that's something I've been striving for each day since then." And now that hard work has paid off. He was selected to begin training as a mission specialist as part of the 2004 astronaut candidate class.
One of four children in a migrant farming family from Mexico, Hernandez -- who didn't learn English until he was 12 years old -- spent much of his childhood on what he calls "the California circuit," traveling with his family from Mexico to southern California each March, then working northward to the Stockton area by November, picking strawberries and cucumbers at farms along the route. Then they would return to Mexico for Christmas, and start the cycle all over again come spring.
"Some kids might think it would be fun to travel like that," Hernandez laughs, "but we had to work. It wasn't a vacation."
After graduating high school in Stockton, Hernandez enrolled at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering and was awarded a full scholarship to the graduate program at the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he continued his engineering studies. In 1987, he accepted a full-time job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he had worked as a co-op in college.
While at Lawrence Livermore, Hernandez worked on signal and image processing applications in radar imaging, computed tomography, and acoustic imaging. Later in his career, Hernandez worked on developing quantitative x-ray film imaging analysis techniques for the x-ray laser program. Hernandez applied these techniques in the medical physics arena and co-developed the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. This system has proven useful for detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage than present film/screen mammography techniques. Hernandez has won recognition awards for his work on this project. He has also worked in the international arena where he represented Lawrence Livermore and the U.S. Department of Energy on Russian nuclear non-proliferation issues.
During the astronaut application process, Hernandez had to meet with a review board. That's where he came face-to-face with his original inspiration: Franklin Chang-Diaz.
"It was a strange place to find myself, being evaluated by the person who gave me the motivation to get there in the first place," Hernandez says. "But I found that we actually had common experiences -- a similar upbringing, the same language issues. That built up my confidence. Any barriers that existed, he had already hurdled them."
Hernandez smiles. "Now it's my turn!"
How to book José M. Hernández?
Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like José M. Hernández for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for José M. Hernández, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for José M. Hernández or any other celebrity of your choice.
How much does it cost to book José M. Hernández?
Booking fees for José M. Hernández, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire José M. Hernández, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
Who is the agent for José M. Hernández?
All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like José M. Hernández for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book José M. Hernández for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service talent booking agency?
All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent José M. Hernández or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for José M. Hernández or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
José M. Hernández is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Space, Hispanic Heritage and Diversity. The estimated speaking fee range to book José M. Hernández for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. José M. Hernández generally travels from Stockton, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are J.R. Martinez, Shayla Rivera and Olga Custodio. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling José M. Hernández for an upcoming event.
José was excellent to work with. Thank you!
Omaha Public Schools
- Aug 23 2022
PayPal - Sep 24 2021
Danaher Corporation - Aug 13 2020
Mr. Jose Hernandez was incredibly generous with his time, enthusiastic about all of the interactions with Augustana College faculty, students, staff and administrators, and tireless with allowing the throngs of inspired audience members to take pictures with him and have him sign autographs. His message was so well-crafted and very powerful--he touched and influenced audience members, young and old alike! Our community was influenced and energized by his visit.
Augustana College
- Nov 11 2019
It was an exhilarating day! José was incredibly generous with his time, enthusiastic about all of the interactions with faculty, students, administrators, and tireless with allowing the throngs of inspired audience members wanting to take pictures and sign autographs after. His message was very powerful and touched and influenced audience members, young and old alike.
Augustana College
- Nov 07 2019
Hernandez, an immigrant with an aptitude for math and science who graduated from the University of the Pacific, was rejected 11 times by NASA before being accepted to the astronaut program. He eventually emerged from the highly-competitive process, and “spent 14 days in space in 2009 as a flight engineer aboard Space Shuttle Mission STS-128.”
When Jose Hernandez was born, many people thought his life was mapped out for him. Raised by ... "You think I'm gonna quit my first time as a congressman?
How to book José M. Hernández?
Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like José M. Hernández for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for José M. Hernández, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for José M. Hernández or any other celebrity of your choice.
How much does it cost to book José M. Hernández?
Booking fees for José M. Hernández, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire José M. Hernández, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
Who is the agent for José M. Hernández?
All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like José M. Hernández for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book José M. Hernández for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service talent booking agency?
All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent José M. Hernández or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for José M. Hernández or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
José M. Hernández is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Space, Hispanic Heritage and Diversity. The estimated speaking fee range to book José M. Hernández for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. José M. Hernández generally travels from Stockton, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are J.R. Martinez, Shayla Rivera and Olga Custodio. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling José M. Hernández for an upcoming event.
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