UHCL physics graduate joins NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Persevering through self-doubt

Despite his accomplishments, Gallaher said his path through college was far from easy.

"Every day," he said when asked whether he faced challenges during his academic journey. "In almost every physics class, I never felt like I was as knowledgeable as I was supposed to be."

Rather than allowing those doubts to stop him, he embraced the reality that growth often comes through struggle.

"I would tell myself that physics is supposed to be hard," he said. "This meant lots of late nights doing homework, studying for exams, and learning more about each topic. It was years of doubt and struggle, but I did it."

Balancing coursework with professional responsibilities required discipline and resilience. Some days began with work at JSC, continued with evening classes at UHCL, and ended with overnight Artemis II mission simulations.

"There were days I would go on-site at JSC, work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., go to class at UHCL from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., then back to JSC for a second-shift Artemis simulation," he said.

The demanding schedule taught him lessons in time management and perseverance that continue to serve him in his professional career.

Reaching for new frontiers

Today, Gallaher has begun a new chapter at Goddard Space Flight Center, where he works on operations supporting the Hubble Space Telescope.

For someone who has long been fascinated by space exploration, the opportunity is professionally rewarding and personally meaningful.

"Space telescopes have always been interesting to me - the forefront of answering the universe's unanswered questions," he said. "Getting the opportunity to try out a different side of spaceflight has been really interesting so far."

The move also brings him closer to family in Detroit. Yet beyond any individual mission or position, Gallaher's motivation remains rooted in a lifelong passion for exploration.

"I have always been passionate about spaceflight," he said. "The idea of humanity leaving this planet and crossing new frontiers, with the goal of making life interplanetary."

A message for Hawks

Gallaher hopes current and future students recognize that ambitious goals often seem impossible until someone commits to pursuing them.

"Don't tell yourself it's impossible. Nothing is truly impossible," he said. "I went from almost not graduating high school to working at NASA."

His advice is simple: find something exciting and stay committed to it, even when the path becomes difficult.

"Find something you are passionate about, academically or professionally, and tell yourself that you will get there, no matter what," Gallaher said.

When asked what role UHCL played in helping him reach his goals, he answered without hesitation.

"UHCL is the sole reason I am the person I am today," Gallaher said. "From the team in the Strategic Partnerships office believing in me and supporting me the past two-plus years, to the professors who pushed me to do my best. I genuinely owe it all to UHCL."

Andrew Gallaher's story serves as a reminder that remarkable careers are rarely built in a single moment. They are built through persistence, mentorship, hard work, and a willingness to seize opportunities as they arise. For Gallaher, those qualities helped transform a dream of working in spaceflight into a career supporting some of NASA's most critical missions.

Ready to turn your passion into a career? Discover how UHCL's Physics Program and Office of Strategic Partnerships connect students with hands-on experience, industry mentors, and opportunities that can launch extraordinary futures at www.uhcl.edu/science-engineering/departments/mathematical-applied-and-physical-sciences/physics/ and www.uhcl.edu/strategic-partnerships/.