Jared Spiers grew up near NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and began working there as a contractor after graduating from Pearl River Community College in 2017. He later helped prepare the historic Thad Cochran Test Stand for testing NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, joined NASA’s civil service workforce in June 2026, and now supports testing activities connected to Blue Origin’s New Glenn while carrying on a family tradition of service to the agency.
From community college to NASA
Spiers grew up near NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and heard about his father’s work there. That connection gave him an early understanding of the nation’s space program. Before graduating from high school, he already knew where he wanted to work.
In 2017, Spiers graduated from Pearl River Community College with three associate degrees: instrumentation, electronics, and electrical technology. He began working as a contractor at NASA Stennis the Monday after graduation.
His work contributed to NASA’s effort to return humans to the Moon. Spiers helped prepare the Thad Cochran Test Stand, also known as B-1/B-2, for the Green Run test series involving the first core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The facility was originally built to test stages of the Saturn V rocket during the Apollo program.
The Green Run testing took place before the successful Artemis I test flight.
“It was a completely different experience actually operating the rocket,” Spiers said. “When I was a kid, I would have been crazy excited to see that.”
That work helped lay the groundwork for the Artemis II lunar-orbit test flight last April. During the mission, the first astronauts to fly aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft traveled farther into space than any humans had previously gone.
A new role at NASA
In June 2026, Spiers transitioned from contractor work to a civil service position under NASA’s workforce directive to restore core competencies.
“When I joined NASA, it meant even more. It felt like a goal had been accomplished,” Spiers said. “As a contractor, I was never given special treatment, but at NASA I feel even more part of the team. There’s an added sense of ownership and a tremendous sense of pride.”
As an electrical engineer, Spiers works 12-hour shifts that begin at 6 a.m. He is part of the team preparing the test stand for stage testing of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. The commercial partnership directly supports NASA’s efforts to land American astronauts on the Moon and build a lunar base.
His technical expertise is used to help ensure that the facility’s electronics operate reliably and collect accurate data. His responsibilities include installing conduits and cables, connecting data-collection equipment, and verifying that motor valves work as intended. Although the work moves quickly, Spiers takes pride in completing each task correctly.
A NASA family
For Spiers, NASA is like family. His father, Joey Spiers, also moved from a long-term contractor position to become a NASA civil servant over the summer, working as an electrical engineer. Spiers’ brother-in-law, Brock Shepard, joined NASA as a mechanical engineering technician in September.
His enthusiasm for NASA is shared by his wife and children in Poplarville, Mississippi. His 6-year-old son, a member of the Artemis generation, points to the International Space Station when it passes overhead and believes his father works there. His younger daughter calls his office to ask about the rocket.
Spiers brings the same family-oriented outlook to his work, treating his crew as an extended family. He also credits the veteran employees who mentored him after he graduated from college and is now helping to support the next generation in return.
Sharing his path with students
At NASA’s Career and Technical Education Day at Stennis in September, Spiers spoke to community college students and a virtual audience of thousands about his path to NASA, the importance of a strong work ethic, and the role technical skills play in the agency’s mission.
“My crew is amazing. We love our jobs, we love spending time together, and we care about each other,” Spiers said.
Source: www.nasa.gov