{"id":347952,"date":"2026-01-13T03:42:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T17:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=45776d9144783f8ca349b9f271831013"},"modified":"2026-01-13T03:42:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T17:42:32","slug":"nasa-stennis-engineer-proud-to-serve-during-nasas-return-to-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=347952","title":{"rendered":"NASA Stennis Engineer Proud to Serve During NASA\u2019s Return to the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Richard<\/a><\/figure>
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Richard Wear stands with the E Test Complex in the background at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center, where he is acting chief of the Mechanical Engineering Branch. <\/div>\n
NASA\/Danny Nowlin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Richard Wear calls it an honor to be working at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, during a historic time as NASA prepares to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years on the Artemis II<\/a> mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not stopped learning in the 15 years that I have been here,\u201d Wear said.<\/p>\n

As acting chief of the Mechanical Engineering Branch, the Slidell, Louisiana, resident primarily supports testing at the E Test Complex, where NASA and commercial companies carry out propulsion test operations.<\/p>\n

The complex features four stands with 12 test cells capable of supporting a range of component and engine test activities. The versatility of the complex infrastructure and test team allows it to support projects for commercial aerospace companies, large and small.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unique high pressure systems bring customers from all over the country,\u201d Wear said. \u201cI am proud to have been a part of testing for our commercial partners over the years, some of which have become successful and recognized across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Alabama to NASA Stennis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Education was always a priority in Wear\u2019s household. His mom taught math, and his dad majored in chemistry. It influenced the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native\u2019s decision to pursue engineering.<\/p>\n

After earning bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama, Wear began his career in 2006 at NASA\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans as a contractor for Lockheed Martin. He worked in the thermal analysis group to support the space shuttle external tank program. His role focused on studying how heat moved through the tank\u2019s structure and its thermal protection systems.<\/p>\n

When NASA needed to fill a thermal analysis role at NASA Stennis in 2010, Wear applied and quickly embraced the challenge. Initially hired to focus on thermal analysis, he soon expanded his expertise to include fluid analysis and thermodynamics. Even in his current supervisory role, Wear continues to contribute technical analysis and support testing.<\/p>\n

Life at NASA Stennis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wear describes NASA Stennis as a \u201chands-on, get-it-done center\u201d with a culture that is serious, yet fun.<\/p>\n

As a smaller NASA center, everyone has the chance to make a difference.<\/p>\n

Wear believes the work environment provides new employees the opportunity to meet developmental goals faster.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that is also true for our test customers and tenants,\u201d Wear said. \u201cSometimes with our customers at the E Test Complex, they are just starting out, so we can guide them to a successful outcome by sharing our knowledge. We want all our employees and customers to be successful and I think that really shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mission-focused culture has shaped Wear\u2019s own career.<\/p>\n

Since joining NASA Stennis in 2010 as a junior analyst, he advanced to senior analyst, then lead project fluid systems analyst, before being named thermal-fluid subject matter expert in 2018. In 2022, he accepted the deputy chief position in the Mechanical Engineering Branch and has served as acting chief since March 2025.<\/p>\n

Even in a supervisor role, Wear continues to find inspiration in the teamwork around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe focus here is always on the mission, not on whose job it is,\u201d he said. \u201cThat true team effort motivates me to do my best every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advice for Future Engineers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One part of Wear\u2019s role he enjoys is training students. Inspiration came to him during recent interviews with students for the Pathways Internship<\/a>. The conversations were with several students that have a passion for NASA, its mission, and for space exploration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking hard in school and getting good grades is part of it, but I think persistence and attitude plays a huge part,\u201d Wear said. \u201cFor example, we have told our prospective Pathways Interns multiple times that attitude is one of the most important parts of getting a job at NASA Stennis after an internship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wear recommends all students do their research, figure out what he or she does not know, and then find someone who can help fill the gap.<\/p>\n

This approach of staying curious and persistent is what put Wear in the right place at the right time as NASA writes a new chapter of space history that will return America to the Moon and beyond.<\/p>\n

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Richard Wear calls it an honor to be working at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, during a historic time as NASA prepares to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years on the Artemis II mission. \u201cI have not stopped learning in the 15 years [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15679],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stennis-space-center"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=347952"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":347953,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347952\/revisions\/347953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}