Bio

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2021

Mr. Miguel A. Hernandez, Jr. was born in Havana, Cuba in 1941 and immigrated to the United States in 1960. He earned an Engineering degree from the University of Florida, followed by a Master’s degree in Systems Management at Florida Tech. Mike started his engineering career in 1967 working for NASA at Kennedy Space Center as a simulation engineer in the Flight Crew Training Division. There he specialized in spacecraft systems and was part of the team that trained the Apollo astronauts for their missions to the Moon. In 1982, Mike Hernandez founded Hernandez Engineering Inc. (HEI). For 25 years, served as President and Chief Operating Officer of HEI which became a well-known and highly successful engineering firm.  Effective June 2007, HEI was acquired by Bastion Technologies, Inc.  Mr. Hernandez continues his career as a Senior Engineering Advisor to the President of Bastion Technologies, Inc.

Over 45 years in the Aerospace Industry, Miguel has numerous accomplishments and accolades. He supported several missions at the Control Center in Houston including the Apollo 13 for which he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as part of the Mission Operations Team. He led teams on simulator development, training material development and presentation, procedures development, and flight crew and flight controllers training for Apollo, Sky Lab and early Shuttle programs.

As President of Hernandez Engineering, he led a contract with the German Space Agency (DLR) on all aspects of manned spaceflight operations and payload integration for two Shuttle/Space Lab missions (D-1 and D-2), Germany had contracted with NASA.

He created companies in Germany and in The Netherlands, that supported for over 2 decades ESA and the European Space Industry in all aspects of human space flight operations, and safety, including supporting the design of the MPLM and Columbus Module for the ISS, the Italian Tethered Satellite and the French Hermes spacecraft. He also contracted with the Japanese Space Agency/JAMMS supporting their integration of experiment /payloads on the Shuttle.

Hernandez’s actions brought to the European Space community the expertise needed to make the transition from satellite operations to human space flight operations.

How did Florida Tech help prepare you for your career? 

While working as a NASA engineer at KSC, it became apparent to me the importance of continuing my studies to obtain a Master Degree in Engineer Management.

Later on when Hernandez Engineering Inc. was created the knowledge obtained, via the material of that management degree from Florida Tech., became the foundation to run all aspects of the company which grew to more than 700 employees, with contracts at most of the NASA Centers , contracts with the NAVY and Air Force and 2 additional companies, one in Germany and another in The Netherlands .

What advice or words of wisdom do you have for students and recent graduates?  

Apply yourself well as a student. That material you are receiving will be of great value for the rest of your life. Figure out what you would really enjoy doing and set your course to be the best you can be at it. Understand that the easiest way is in most cases, not the best way.

Success in life is self-defined. Don’t be afraid, go ahead and find your success!

What was your most memorable experience at Florida Tech? 

How helpful everyone was to help me operate through some of the requirements of a university. When I had only a few courses to graduate NASA transferred me from Florida to Texas. First I faced all kinds of obstacles at both ends to be able to finish my courses. But as I started talking to professors and members of Administration the problems were getting resolved and I was able to take my courses in different ways and graduate.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?  

I have found my success in my family and in business.

If you were contacted by a student or recent graduate—what could you offer them? 

My 80 years of experience.