There is no one area of chemical engineering that specifically helped me in my career as an astronaut, it was more the general education in engineering. Also, it was a very difficult and rigorous course. So, it made me strong and resourceful.

Pre-NASA career

Upon graduation Chiao worked at Hexcel Corporation in Dublin California from 1987 to 1989. Two NASA Group Achievement Awards (1997 1995). Recipient of the 100 Most Influential Asian Americans in the 1990¹s Award from A-Magazine (2000).

Leroy Chiao (born August 28 1960) is an American engineer former NASA astronaut entrepreneur motivational speaker and engineering consultant. Chiao flew on three shuttle flights and was the commander of Expedition 10 where he lived on board the International Space Station from October 13 2004 to April 24 2005. He is also a co-author and researcher for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity Project.