Independent Study & Mentorship
I spent my ISM year building STRATOS, a flight-performance simulator, under Dr. Giuseppe Cataldo, Assistant Chief for Technology at NASA Goddard - alongside five research assessments on quantum aerospace, CFD, autonomous flight, and supersonic versus subsonic flight, plus interviews with engineers at Lockheed Martin, NASA, and an aerospace startup. ISM is a competitive Frisco ISD elective that lets juniors and seniors study one career field independently through research, professional interviews, and mentorship.
Mentor: Dr. Giuseppe Cataldo, Assistant Chief for Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Giuseppe Cataldo has served as Assistant Chief for Technology, responsible for directing a multimillion-dollar research and development portfolio, driving strategic investments in advanced technologies for NASA's Moon to Mars program, planetary defense and national security across the 9-branch, 500+ employee Mechanical Systems Division. He also establishes and manages critical partnerships with NASA centers, academia and industry to accelerate technology maturation and infusion, and oversees new business development initiatives, securing funding and advancing innovative solutions for current and future NASA missions.