Meet these Filipino Americans working at NASA Langley

The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo

As if NASA’s Langley Research Center opening its doors for a tour isn’t enough, some visitors were thrilled to find out that Filipino Americans also actually work in the facility.

While it’s undeniable that Filipinos are trailblazers wherever they are in the world, Jeremy Ulanday, Joel Lonzaga, and Sally-Manuelita Hall have shown their own significant contributions at NASA Langley in Hampton, Virginia.

Fil-Am workers at NASA

These Fil-Am workers take center stage in the entertainment zone of the NASA Langley tour.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ulanday, a dedicated test engineer working as facility safety head, shared that in his daily work, there’s always “something new.”

“And we’re always trying to be innovative. The newest airplanes, the newest gadgets we have it all here in NASA, so, I get to play with new toys,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lonzaga is shining in his own way as a research aerospace engineer studying how to improve space travel. Lonzaga also earned an Exceptional Award Certificate from NASA for his groundbreaking project in 2019.

Today at 4PM in Cortez C: “Recent Enhancements to NASA’s PCBoom Sonic Boom Propagation Code” with Joel Lonzaga of @NASA_Langley. #AIAAaviation pic.twitter.com/sx8gFr5Epe

— NASA Aeronautics (@NASAaero) June 19, 2019

Adding to the slew of female achievers dominating their respective fields is Sally-Manuelita Hall, operations manager and a leading figure at NASA Langley for five years.

Hall looks forward to this open house event that only happens every five years, never forgetting to shine the spotlight on Filipino talents.

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“Remember, this is the month of Filipino-American Heritage and so I went out and sought performers from Virginia Beach, Richmond, and the vicinity,” she said.

After five years, we’re curious about what’s next for these Fil-Am workers at NASA Langley. Perhaps more Fil-Ams working in the facility?