From Gettysburg to the universe: Alyssa Kaewwilai ’20 launches aerospace career

Gettysburg College is where dreamers become doers. For Alyssa Kaewwilai ’20, Gettysburg became the launch pad for an ever evolving career at the frontiers of aerospace.

An environmental studies major with a concentration in GIS (geographical information systems), Kaewwilai recently joined Jeff Bezos’s private space company, Blue Origin, as a data scientist supporting the New Glenn rocket program. At the end of 2025, Blue Origin successfully launched New Glenn 2 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars to study solar wind behavior and radiation.

For Kaewwilai, watching the vehicle lift off was unforgettable. “It was an extraordinary milestone for aerospace, science, and technology, and an incredible moment to witness as part of the team,” she said.

Her path to Blue Origin was built step by step. She previously supported NOAA’s National Weather Service, protecting critical weather reporting systems through security and vulnerability management. She also contributed to NASA aerospace projects and created tools that help scientists discover and use Earth science data. Since graduating from Gettysburg, she has been pursuing a Master of Science in systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Kaewwilai believes these achievements are rooted in the liberal arts education she received at Gettysburg. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunities Gettysburg provided,” she said. “A holistic educational experience opens your eyes to ideas and possibilities you’d otherwise overlook. The lessons I learned inside and outside the classroom are invaluable.”

Kaewwilai sought out those lessons at every turn. As a Digital Technology Fellow, she used drone imagery to detect flood patterns on campus and recommend ways to protect Gettysburg’s iconic landmarks from future water damage. Alyssa tapped into the resources of the Rogers Center for Innovation and Creativity, honoring the late Clarence B. “Jack” Rogers Jr. ’51. During a semester abroad in Sāmoa, she researched climate resilient technology and infrastructure. Back on campus, she studied bird species with Environmental Studies Prof. Andrew Wilson while also competing on the swim team.

“I never would have dreamed that I’d earn a spot in the aerospace industry, much less at a company making history in the space race,” she reflected. As a first generation college student, she faced many challenges, but she found a strong network at Gettysburg. “The resources, mentors, and support here give students like me the tools to shatter the glass ceiling and forge our own path,” she said.

Today at Blue Origin, she lives by the company motto, Gradatim Ferociter — “step by step, ferociously” — and carries forward the spirit of exploration captured in Yuri Gagarin’s belief that nothing will stop us on the steep, dangerous road to the stars.

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