TO NASA and BEYOND: Perseverance to Achieve the Impossible

Kevin J DeBruin dreamed of designing spaceships for NASA ever since he was a child. DeBruin doesn’t know what the definition of ‘giving up’ is. His ability to never take no for an answer earned him an accomplishment that many dream of…working for NASA.

In To NASA & Beyond, DeBruin shares his incredible journey and the numerous challenges he encountered. Over the course of three years, DeBruin submitted over 150 internship applications to NASA. Georgia Tech initially denied his application to graduate school. After three rounds of interviews NASA JPL they did not give him a job, however DeBruin wouldn’t quit. In what totals to over 35 interviews with NASA, DeBruin never lost hope in achieving his dream as a 10-year-old boy.

About the author: Kevin J DeBruin is a former NASA Rocket Scientist. DeBruin worked as a Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, CA in Project Formulation from 2015-2018. DeBruin has worked on the Europa Lander Mission Concept as a Flight Systems Engineer and also in the Advanced Design Engineering group working on advanced mission concept studies as a part of TeamX and A-Team. DeBruin holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Minor in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. DeBruin received his Master’s of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Aerospace Systems Design Lab.