2010

  • French

    Francis French

    BA, University of North London, England
    PGCE, Brunel University

    Originally from Manchester England, Francis French has spent more than a decade working to make science and technology accessible and understandable to family audiences in museums and science centers here in the United States. Mr. French, a former Space Academy® Level II trainee, showed an early and significant interest in space and space history. So, it is no surprise that his professional endeavors have been focused on spaceflight and astronomy. His work includes regular collaborations with NASA, retired astronauts, notable astronomers and astronomical observatories around the world. Having worked both as the Director of Events with Sally Ride Science and Director of Education for the San Diego Air & Space Museum, Mr. French is a sought-after contributor of articles to aerospace magazines, primarily in the area of manned spaceflight history. Mr. French is co-author of both Into that Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon, and designed a banner that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on its final successful mission. Francis French has remained true to his first love and continues to pursue his passion to the benefit of thousands of lifelong learners.


  • Hynda

    MAJ. J. David Hnyda, U.S. Army

    BS, Auburn University

    US Army, Snellville, Georgia

    Eagle Scout and former Space Camp® trainee and Crew Trainer, David Hnyda, was part of the Space Camp family for more than a decade. Although that time included him having the distinction of being a Right Stuff winner as both trainee and Crew Trainer, his life since Space Camp is surely the envy of every Aviation Challenge® Camp trainee that has ever attended. While earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering, Major Hnyda was in Army ROTC. He began early making his mark by completing the Army’s Airborne, Air Assault and Northern Warfare Schools. Following graduation, Major Hnyda joined the Air Calvary flying the OH-58D helicopter. He has spent the last decade and more than 1,150 combat hours serving in support of the Iraq War as an Air Mission Commander. In 2011, Major Hnyda graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, and is currently serving as an Experimental Test Pilot. U.S. Army Major David Hnyda has a long history of distinguishing himself at every turn and is living proof that dreams are made of vision, dedication and hard work.


  • Jaques

    Danny R. Jaques

    BS, Fort Lewis College

    Danny Jaques has been a science teacher at Ignacio Junior High School for nearly twenty-five years. For more than half of those years, he has been a veritable dynamo and perhaps Space Camp’s most effective un-official ambassador. A life-long resident of Colorado, Danny has worked to ensure that the children in that area have the opportunity to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered at Space Camp®. As a Life Member of the National Science Teacher Association, President of the Ignacio Community Historical Society, member of the Mars Society, and Teacher Liaison Officer for the U.S. Space Foundation, Danny somehow found time to establish the Jaquez Rocket Ranch and Ignacio Space Camp. Danny’s organization has helped hundreds of students attend Space Camp. His natural optimism, enthusiasm and utter “joie de vive” make Danny a magnet for anyone that shares an interest in space and aviation.


  • Hanson

    Andrea M. Hanson, PhD

    BS, University of North Dakota
    MS University of Colorado
    Ph.D, University of Colorado, Boulder

    Former Advanced Space Academy® counselor, Andrea Hanson’s enthusiasm for Space Life Science began during her freshman year at college. However, Dr. Hanson credits her time as an instructor at Space Camp® the launch pad for her research career in that field. Following an internship with Boeing Satellite Systems, Dr. Hanson worked as a graduate student with BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado. Her dreams were realized when five years of research culminated in a space shuttle experiment that flew aboard STS-118 in August of 2007. Today, Dr. Hanson is post-doctoral research scientist and engineer in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, focusing on developing technology to monitor musculoskeletal health in astronauts during long-duration space missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.