Katherine Spies was selected by NASA to join the 2025 astronaut candidate class. She reported for duty in September 2025.

An AH-1 attack helicopter pilot and Marine Corps test pilot, she has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft and is a graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. The California native holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California and a master’s in design engineering from Harvard University.

About Brooke Hyman

Brooke lived most of her young life in Atlanta, GA. She attended the University of Texas - Austin as an undergraduate studying Psychology. With a heart for working in education and a dream to live on the west coast, she moved to California to obtain a Master’s in Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. Over the past 20 years, Brooke has worked in several institutions of higher education in various roles. Her interests lie in guiding and inspiring students through the admissions process with the ultimate goal of finding the right fit for future career potential. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys teaching Pilates, practicing photography and hanging at home with her family.