Who signed the Certificate of Achievement?

Chris Hadfield

Commander Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space, is a former NASA Director of Operations in Russia, a leading motivational speaker, an Internet sensation, a musician, and a New York Times best-selling author.

Commanding the International Space Station takes superb leadership. The vehicle is complex, the team is international, the crew is on their own and the stakes are the very highest – huge financial consequences, and perpetual life or death. Only one Canadian has ever held that command – Colonel Chris Hadfield. Through 25 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force and 21 years with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, Chris has developed and honed leadership theories and practices that have taken him to the very top.

In addition to being skilled in leading organizations in complex and changing environments, Chris is also a gifted educator and has worked with countless students and teachers, from preschool to postdoctoral, for decades. Speaking in schools and at education conferences throughout his 35-year career as an engineer, test pilot and astronaut, his rare mixture of personal experience, memorable ideas, and a warm, fun, interactive style has influenced a generation. Most recently, his extensive teachings from Earth orbit, recorded on board the International Space Station, continue to be seen by millions on YouTube.

Chris, who grew up on a farm in Southern Ontario, strongly believes in the necessity to give every student, young and old, the tools and inspiration to succeed. His face and accomplishments are in Canadian science textbooks, as both a role model and a clear example of where STEM education can lead. In his presentations, Chris outlines fundamental theories of leadership, scientific education, and provides original insights, interspersed with memorable examples from his own experience. And sometimes, maybe even a little music.