Students had the opportunity to attend the first “Meet the Manager” event of the Fall 2024 semester, featuring Adrian Mangiuca, a 2009 Franklin alumnus and Program Analyst working at NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. Prior to his time at NASA, Mangiuca built an impressive career with renowned commercial organizations, including SpaceX, Voyager Space, Redwire, and Nanoracks. His lecture provided students with insights into the intersection of public service, space exploration, and commercial enterprise. He shared his journey, beginning from his days at Franklin, where he earned a degree in International Communications, to pursuing his lifelong dream of working in the space industry. Like many alumni and current students, Mangiuca has traveled extensively and worked in diverse settings, noting, “One thing you'll find out as a Franklin graduate is that it takes about a decade, if not more, to stop wandering.”

Mangiuca explained his eagerness to speak to Franklin University Switzerland students, motivated by his “pay it forward” philosophy, which emphasizes helping others advance in their careers. He challenged the idea that one’s career must align strictly with their field of study, asserting, "You can dive into any industry no matter what you study, as long as you commit to the work." His own career path exemplifies this flexibility, spanning government, finance, and space technology.

Beyond adaptability, Mangiuca has held transformational roles that shape the future of commercial space. At Voyager, in his role as Vice President of Strategy, he conducted extensive research and planning for the future commercial space station, “Starlab.” His significant achievements in the space industry include contributions as the Principal Investigator of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Commercialization Study at NanoRacks, selling rockets for SpaceX, and now working with NASA’s Chief Economist to analyze the state of the space economy. Today, he collaborates with industry and government interlocutors to improve NASA’s view on the future dynamics of the space industry. He is personally focused on increasing access to space, promoting innovation and investment, enabling further exploration, and securing a future defined by a vibrant space economy.

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Following the lecture, Mangiuca engaged in a Q&A session, addressing a series of questions, many centered on the evolving "Space Race." Mangiuca expressed his hope for healthy competition balanced with cooperation, underscoring the importance of collective efforts to improve life on Earth. When asked, “How can you justify space exploration when sustainability and climate change are urgent issues on Earth? How can we avoid polluting space?” Mangiuca conveyed his passion for sustainability in the space sector. He emphasized that his work aims to enhance prosperity for all through space exploration and investment while keeping a keen eye on the impacts of that exploration to ensure the human race can access the space domain for generations to come. Mangiuca stressed the importance of investing in space, which can lead to breakthroughs not only in exploration but also in technologies not directly linked to space such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, biopharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

As a Franklin University Switzerland alumnus, Mangiuca’s success story resonated with students, inspiring both aspiration and relatability. This event not only enriched the students’ educational experience but also fostered a renewed sense of possibility.

 

By Alexandria Fraser and Jesse Fioranelli Jr.