One of the most meaningful moments in my life came when I received a Resolution Certificate from the City of Los Angeles. The Resolution Certificate states, “A Resident of Canoga Park, is being honored this day for his courage, bravery, and sincere concern for his fellowman,” and went on to list my life saving actions. The ceremony took place in downtown L.A. and was led by Mayor Tom Bradley, along with the Councilman from the 12th District, the Councilwoman from the 15th District, and representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department.

As an elite NCAA Division 1 Scholar-Athlete, I competed at the highest level in both sports while maintaining strong academic performance. For my exceptional performance in both academics and athletics I was awarded the title of ‘Scholar-Athlete of the Year’ by the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA).

Another career milestone was being awarded the “Member Grade of Fellow” by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), one of the most prestigious professional honors in the aerospace industry. I was nominated by the President of the Advancement of Engineering Institute in Los Angeles. Becoming an AIAA Fellow placed me among a distinguished group of aerospace professionals whose contributions have had a lasting impact on the field.

I’m honored to share that No Straight Lines to the Stars has received early recognition from the Executive Board of the International Memoir Writers Association (IMWA). The Board selected me as its September 2026 Member of the Month, recognizing the book as a compelling and inspiring memoir that is an excellent fit for its readers and writing community.

Selected by NASA Leadership for graduate studies at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering and San Jose State University’s School of Industrial Psychology through a Graduate Cooperative Program at NASA Ames Research Center.