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SETTING THE COURSE FOR A MEANINGFUL MISSIONPhoto Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryAlumnus Matthew Landano has played a vital role in the success of numerous aerospace missions during his distinguished career at National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory.Matthew Landano is living proof of how a California State University, Los Angeles, education can help launch a remarkable lifelong career.The first in his family to finish high school, Landano enrolled at Cal State L.A., then called Los Angeles State College, to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1963, heworked full time in the aerospace industry while earning his master’s degree in 1968.“During my years at Cal State L.A., I was fortunate enough to have professors who provided me with a solid education while stressing the importance of teaming, group problem-solving, hard work, perseverance, and respect. I realized my ambition was to be part of the nation’s space program, so I joined the California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL, in 1969,” explains Landano, who served as director for the Office of Safety and Mission Success at JPL from 2002 to 2013.Landano began his career at JPL as part of the Viking Orbiter System Design/Development Team, a deep-space mission designed to support the first Mars lander and capture images of Mars. In 1973, he joined the Voyager Project System Design/Development Team, and from 1978 to 1997, he held several positions with the Jupiter-bound Galileo mission, including system design group supervisor, chief engineer, and deputy mission director responsible for day-to-day flight operations. In 1997, Landano workedon the Cassini mission to explore Saturn, preparing the spacecraft for launch and early phase flight operations.His aerospace experience also includes a period at the Planetary Flight Projects Office, where he playeda significant role in supporting many projects, including Deep Space 1, Stardust, Deep Impact, Genesis, and Galaxy Evolution Explorer. Later, Landano served as deputy director of the Planetary Flight Projects Directorate and project manager of the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission.“While all these missions have brought a great sense of accomplishment, I’m particularly partial to the Galileo Project because of the team challenges of keeping the spacecraft development on track and overcoming many pre-launch redesigns and significant operational difficulties, whilestill managing to achieve mission success,” Landano says.In his time at JPL, Landano has received NASA’s highest Distinguished Service Medal, two NASA Outstanding Leadership medals, and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, as well as the Aviation Week Laurels Award in1989. In 2011, he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology.“Aerospace is a challenging and rewarding career that requires technical excellence, perseverance, teamwork, passion, and humility,” he says. “To current students, I’d say study hard, don’t give up, be a team player, get knowledge and experience in cross-cutting disciplines, and make sure you enjoy the work you do and the people you work with.” •ff22