Sean O'Keefe was a speaker at The Salvation Army's luncheon in Syracuse--he also talks about motivating young people to tech careers
The former head of NASA was back in Syracuse Tuesday as the guest speaker at The Salvation Army's annual luncheon, and he talked with us about America's future in space.
Sean O'Keefe is now CEO of EADS North America, an international aerospace/aviation company based in Washington, DC.
Before being tapped to head NASA, he was at Syracuse University. His talk, to the Salvation Army benefit, focused on ways the Army has supported efforts at helping people get ahead. But he told us that one of his main jobs at NASA, which continues in his current position, is to get young people excited about careers in aviation and space exploration.
"If you aren't motivating grade school students to think about the applications of science and math in a fun way and a creative way," says O'Keefe, " then you're gonna lose a whole generation of just extraordinary professionals who could help us all advance knowledge much more aggressively."
O'Keefe acknowledges our space program is in a retooling mode, with the end of shuttle flights, and he's hopeful that after the election, the White House will re-focus on a new effort at space exploration.
