FOSIM holds Distinguished Speaker Series with former NASA Astronaut Captain Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper
The Foreign Service Institute of Maldives (FOSIM) invited Captain Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Former NASA Astronaut, to deliver a talk at FOSIM, as part of FOSIM’s Distinguished Speaker Series, held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Captain Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper’s talk, she shared her remarkable experiences and inspirational journey as an astronaut, and gave an insight into the Maldives- US relationship.
Captain Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is a mission specialist veteran of two space flights, STS-115 Atlantis in 2006 and STS-126 Endeavour in 2008. Selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in April 1996, she reported to Johnson Space Center in August 1996. During her time as an astronaut, she logged over 27 days in space, including 33 hours and 42 minutes of EVA in five spacewalks. She is also a qualified and experienced salvage officer. She received her commission from the Navy in June 1985. She completed training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida as a Navy Basic Diving Officer and Salvage Officer. In September 1994, Captain Stefanyshyn-Piper reported to the Naval Sea Systems Command as Underwater Ship Husbandry Operations Officer for the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving. In that capacity, she advised fleet diving activities in the repair of naval vessels while waterborne. Captain Piper received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984 and 1985. Captain Piper retired from NASA in 2009 and returned to the U.S. Navy. She is currently involved in supporting STEM student groups to encourage future space explorers.
FOSIM Distinguished Speaker series features notable figures both at home and abroad, and aims to create dialogue and debate on issues of strategic, and global importance among the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today’s session was attended by senior officials of the Ministry, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Maldives Andrea Appell and senior officials of the Embassy of the United States of America.