Victor Glover, pilot on the historic Artemis II lunar-orbit mission that reached a record 252,756 miles from Earth, is leaving NASA's active astronaut corps after 13 years. He will join NASA's astronaut emeritus program to mentor staff at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Effective Sept. 1, Glover will take a full-time administrative leadership role at California Polytechnic State University to shape polytechnic education, research innovation, and workforce development and to serve as an ambassador for student STEM initiatives.
From Artemis II Pilot to Campus Leader: Victor Glover Joins Cal Poly to Champion Next-Gen STEM
Retired NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Takes On Admin Leadership Role At Alma Mater To Champion Next Generation Of STEM Leaders
Victor Glover, a veteran NASA astronaut and pilot on the historic Artemis II mission, is shifting his focus from spaceflight to mentoring the next generation of STEM leaders.
Glover helped make history in 2026 as a member of Artemis II, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in more than 50 years. That mission — which included fellow astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — reached a record distance of 252,756 miles from Earth at its farthest point, according to Howard University.
After a 13-year career in NASA's active astronaut corps, Glover is stepping into NASA's astronaut emeritus program. Under that arrangement, he will continue to donate his time training and mentoring staff at the Johnson Space Center in Houston while transitioning out of day-to-day flight duties.
“As I grow into this new role, NASA and spaceflight remain a meaningful part of my journey of service,” Glover said in a NASA statement. “I'm excited to keep uplifting my friends and cheering them on as they reach for the Moon. Together, we'll keep pushing boundaries and inspiring the next giant leap.”
Concurrently, effective Sept. 1, Glover will assume a full-time administrative leadership position at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). According to a Cal Poly release, he will help shape the university's long-term strategy for polytechnic education, research innovation, and workforce development.
In his Cal Poly role, Glover will collaborate with campus leaders — including the president, provost, and college deans — to build partnerships, guide initiatives, and support philanthropy across a range of areas:
- Engineering and applied computing
- Aerospace, aviation, and autonomous systems
- Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
- Maritime studies and national defense-related programs
He will also serve as an ambassador for student-focused STEM programs, working to expand opportunities, internships, and resources for learners from diverse backgrounds.
“The most meaningful moments of my NASA career did not take place in space,” Glover wrote on LinkedIn, referring to supporting crewmembers and mentoring interns and new hires. He added that as he retires from the U.S. Navy and transitions to astronaut emeritus status, he is grateful to continue serving NASA while beginning this new chapter at Cal Poly's Learn by Doing institution.
Glover's move combines hands-on mentorship at NASA with institutional leadership in higher education, positioning him to influence both workforce development and academic pathways into engineering and aerospace careers.
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