Local Engineer Richard Wear's Journey with NASA Takes Center Stage During Historic Artemis II Mission
Richard Wear, 45, hails from Slidell, Louisiana, where he has spent the last decade working at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis. For him, being part of this historic time marks a dream come true, as NASA prepares to embark on its first mission around the Moon in over five decades.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Wear initially joined NASA in 2006 at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, working for Lockheed Martin. Following his graduation from the University of Alabama with both bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering, he began his tenure at Stennis Space Center in 2010 as a thermal analysis specialist.
Since then, his professional trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. In an act of career progression that is both inspiring and impressive, Wear has moved from an entry-level position to become the acting chief of the Mechanical Engineering Branch. His enthusiasm for the work environment is palpable, describing Stennis Space Center as a "hands-on, get-it-done center" with a culture that seamlessly blends seriousness and camaraderie.
The unique infrastructure at E Test Complex, which features four stands with 12 test cells, allows NASA and its commercial partners to support a wide array of testing operations. Wear credits this versatility for attracting customers from across the country, including prominent commercial aerospace companies. His role has involved supporting projects for these organizations, with some achieving international recognition.
Wear attributes his decision to pursue engineering largely to his parents' influence – his mom taught math and his dad majored in chemistry. This family-driven passion for learning played a pivotal role in shaping his career path.
Throughout his tenure at Stennis Space Center, Wear has continued to expand his expertise, embracing fluid analysis and thermodynamics beyond the initial scope of thermal analysis. His commitment to technical analysis and testing has been instrumental in the success of various projects over the years.
One aspect that Wear finds particularly fulfilling is training students – an endeavor inspired by conversations with prospective Pathways Interns who possess a genuine passion for NASA's mission and space exploration. According to Wear, the key to career success lies not just in academic achievements but also persistence and attitude.
As the Artemis II mission prepares to send astronauts around the Moon, Richard Wear stands at the forefront of this groundbreaking endeavor, his unwavering dedication and enthusiasm an embodiment of NASA's spirit of innovation and exploration.
Richard Wear, 45, hails from Slidell, Louisiana, where he has spent the last decade working at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis. For him, being part of this historic time marks a dream come true, as NASA prepares to embark on its first mission around the Moon in over five decades.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Wear initially joined NASA in 2006 at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, working for Lockheed Martin. Following his graduation from the University of Alabama with both bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering, he began his tenure at Stennis Space Center in 2010 as a thermal analysis specialist.
Since then, his professional trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. In an act of career progression that is both inspiring and impressive, Wear has moved from an entry-level position to become the acting chief of the Mechanical Engineering Branch. His enthusiasm for the work environment is palpable, describing Stennis Space Center as a "hands-on, get-it-done center" with a culture that seamlessly blends seriousness and camaraderie.
The unique infrastructure at E Test Complex, which features four stands with 12 test cells, allows NASA and its commercial partners to support a wide array of testing operations. Wear credits this versatility for attracting customers from across the country, including prominent commercial aerospace companies. His role has involved supporting projects for these organizations, with some achieving international recognition.
Wear attributes his decision to pursue engineering largely to his parents' influence – his mom taught math and his dad majored in chemistry. This family-driven passion for learning played a pivotal role in shaping his career path.
Throughout his tenure at Stennis Space Center, Wear has continued to expand his expertise, embracing fluid analysis and thermodynamics beyond the initial scope of thermal analysis. His commitment to technical analysis and testing has been instrumental in the success of various projects over the years.
One aspect that Wear finds particularly fulfilling is training students – an endeavor inspired by conversations with prospective Pathways Interns who possess a genuine passion for NASA's mission and space exploration. According to Wear, the key to career success lies not just in academic achievements but also persistence and attitude.
As the Artemis II mission prepares to send astronauts around the Moon, Richard Wear stands at the forefront of this groundbreaking endeavor, his unwavering dedication and enthusiasm an embodiment of NASA's spirit of innovation and exploration.
... i mean its awesome that he gets to be part of history, nasa's doing some big things with Artemis ii & it's cool that they're supporting commercial partners too... Wear sounds like a really down-to-earth guy too, his parents must've had a huge influence on him... good luck to the whole team! 
Can you believe we're finally going back to the moon? 
It's amazing how far we've come since the first Apollo mission in 1969. I mean, Richard Wear is a huge inspiration - from working at NASA's Stennis Space Center to becoming the acting chief of the Mechanical Engineering Branch? Mind blown! 
What's even more incredible is that he started out as a thermal analysis specialist and worked his way up. Talk about hustle! 
, can you even believe what's happening with NASA right now? They're actually going back to the moon! And Richard Wear, this dude from Louisiana is right in the middle of it all 
And Richard Wear is leading the charge. I'm so hyped for this! Let's see what they come up with during Artemis II 
I'm not surprised he's part of the Artemis II mission, considering his expertise in thermal analysis & testing at Stennis Space Center. 
What impresses me most is his commitment to training students - it's heartwarming to see someone give back to the community that inspired them. 
His experience as a mechanical engineer is truly inspiring, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for him & NASA's mission 
Richard Wear is literally the definition of a space nerd - his parents are the ones who got him into math and chemistry, how cool is that? 
I bet he's super stoked to be part of this historic mission tho, gotta respect that. What I'm curious about though is what's gonna happen after this mission, are they just gonna keep on sending people around in circles or is there actually a plan for some real progress? 
! I love how he credits his parents with instilling a passion for learning - that's so inspiring! 
His journey from an entry-level position to becoming the acting chief of Mechanical Engineering Branch is a total testament to hard work and determination 
. And now, as Artemis II mission prepares to take off, he's literally leading the charge 
- it's not "NASA's Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis", it's actually the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where Richard Wear initially joined NASA, then moved to Stennis Space Center a few years later. And, btw, the Artemis II mission is about sending astronauts *around* the Moon, not exactly around it 
. On a more serious note, Wear's story is pretty inspiring, and I'm glad he gets to be part of this historic time - can't wait to see what the future holds for his career! 
. As someone who's been in the "real world" for a while now, it's inspiring to see people like him taking risks and chasing their dreams - I think we could all learn from his attitude 
. He's not just doing it for himself, but also giving back by training students & supporting projects that can benefit others too 
it's like we're finally gonna see some real progress in space exploration. Richard Wear is like a total rockstar engineer, his story is super inspiring - from being part of Lockheed Martin to becoming the acting chief at Stennis Space Center, that's some serious career progression 
. What really gets me is how he's not just focused on technical analysis but also making sure students are equipped with the skills to pursue their dreams - that's the kind of innovation we need more of