Patrick Hughes is a senior at The University of Texas at San Antonio, majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace and a minor in civic engagement. A lifelong space enthusiast, he has pursued his passion through technical work in aerospace engineering. Hughes spent two summers interning at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he led the development and integration of a two-stage parachute system for the reentry of the NASA HyperSTEP Program’s CobraMRV Spacecraft. He also has extensive experience in the field of hypersonic aerodynamics research, working to utilize non-intrusive optical measurement techniques to characterize fluid flow in UTSA’s Mach 7 Ludwieg tube wind tunnel. After graduation, Hughes intends to pursue a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering and advocate for a responsible and effective national space policy.