UM alumnus, Andre Douglas was selected by NASA to join the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class. He will share his story in his "My Path to Michigan" lecture for the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering department.

He reports for duty in January 2022. The Virginia native earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a master’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, and a doctorate in systems engineering from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Douglas served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect, salvage engineer, damage control assistant, and officer of the deck. Upon selection, Douglas was a senior professional staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL) working on maritime robotics, planetary defense, and space exploration missions. Douglas holds a professional engineering license in the state of Virginia and is a champion of youth mentoring and development through FIRST robotics competitions and Junior Achievement mentoring programs.