Joshua Pericles

With a strong desire to serve, Joshua enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006. After successfully completing Special Forces Assessment and Selection, he attended the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Special Forces Qualification Course where he earned his Green Beret. During his service, he deployed to South America and Afghanistan where he conducted missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his deployments, he worked with many US Partner Nation Forces and saw first-hand the difference the United States can make in the lives of people who are being targeted and oppressed by militant forces. Seeing the sacrifices made by his fellow warfighters, he was reminded of the courage it takes to serve, and the freedoms these acts of selflessness provide our Nation. After serving over eight years on Active Duty, Joshua decided to separate from the Army and pursue a degree in Engineering.

Wanting to continue to work in an environment where he would be presented with difficult problems in dynamic situations, Joshua found himself pursuing a career with NASA as an engineer. It was important for him to serve within an organization whose mission was to ultimately benefit others. After being selected for a NASA co-op program, he is currently working with aerospace engineers while completing a B.S. in Computer Engineering. He hopes to work on human spaceflight projects and eventually pursue a graduate degree in Aerospace Engineering.