When he was eight years old, Leroy Chiao built his first space vessel in the family garage. His imagination took flight after he watched the first Apollo moon landing, which inspired him to one day explore space as an astronaut. He earned his undergraduate degree and a Ph.D. from the University of California's prestigious schools of science and chemical engineering. He was plucked by NASA to join the Astronaut Corps in 1990. Four years later, his boyhood dream came true when he flew his first mission beyond the stratosphere aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities, Chiao speaks with boundless enthusiasm about being a leader in pressurized situations, teambuilding, and working to make hope into a reality.

Operational leadership in space applied to your business. Dr. Chiao served as the Commander of the International Space Station on a six-and-a-half-month flight. He assembled a multicultural team of people with diverse backgrounds into an effective operating unit with extraordinary results, culminating in one of the most successful space missions ever flown.  He speaks with experience and authority on universal winning principles, including the following titles:        

• Leadership lessons from the International Space Station:  Culture, Teamwork and Getting Things Done
• How to Think Like an Astronaut:  Solving Problems Decisively, Creatively and In Time!
• Warp Speed:  How Technology is Accelerating and How You can Keep Up!

Climb high, climb far. Chiao distinguished himself at NASA, flying on four space missions. He gained an extraordinary breadth of experience, even among his peers: in addition to flying three Space Shuttle missions, he also served as the Commander and NASA Science Officer of Expedition 10, a six-and-a-half month mission aboard the International Space Station. In total, Chiao has logged over 229 days in space-more than 36 hours of which were spent over six spacewalks.

Having served as a bridge between the multiple cultures committed to space travel, Chiao speaks about the American, Russian, Japanese, European, and Chinese Space Programs. He is currently involved in entrepreneurial business ventures in the U.S. and China and is the executive vice president of Space Operations and a director of Excalibur Almaz Limited, a private orbital manned space venture. He is also the chairman of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute User Panel, which is attached to the Baylor College of Medicine. In 2006, he began an appointment in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Louisiana State University as the first Raborn Distinguished Chair Max Faget Professor. Chiao also sits on boards of directorships of both private and public companies as well as non-profit organizations.

His goal the sky, his aim the star. Chiao has been showered with accolades for his many accomplishments. He was awarded many NASA decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, two Exceptional Service Medals, four Space Flight Medals, four NASA Individual Achievement awards, two NASA Group Achievement awards, and the NASA Going the Extra Mile Award. He received several Federation Aeronautique Internationale awards, including the Koroliev Diploma, Komarov Diploma, and the De La Vaulx Medal. In 1994, the University of California honored him as Alumnus of the Year after his first space flight.

In his presentations, Chiao shares his personal experiences from the unique perspective of a cosmonaut who has truly been out of this world. He explains how being a dreamer led him to becoming a doer. He references his life story when discussing leadership, motivation, teamwork, and diversity. He shares his views on the importance of a global view of the world using his extensive international experience. And perhaps most significant, he makes a thrilling case for how important it is to reach for the stars-because sometimes, with luck and perseverance, the stars reach back.

"The love of flying did not inspire me to become an astronaut, rather, the two are related. They are part of the same dream."