Interview with Cassie Lee: Building Community, Communication, and Climate Awareness in Aerospace

From Propulsion to Purpose

When Cassie Lee began her career as a propulsion engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, her dream was straightforward: build rockets and help launch missions. But over 25 years later, her impact on aerospace extends far beyond engines and launch pads.

Now an industry leader whose work spans technical innovation, strategy, mentorship, and climate intelligence, Cassie has become one of the most influential voices in shaping a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable future for aerospace.

“I always wanted to be an engineer,” she said. “But what I realized over time is that there’s just as much power in how we communicate our work as there is in doing the work itself.”

From NASA to Storytelling

After earning her engineering degree, Lee joined NASA as a propulsion engineer — working on the Space Shuttle program during the return-to-flight period following the Columbia tragedy. Her technical expertise was quickly noticed, and a mentor — then the center director — offered her an unexpected opportunity: a temporary assignment in public affairs to help tell NASA’s story.

“It was supposed to be short-term,” she recalled, “but it completely changed how I thought about my role in the community.”

That experience led her to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned a master’s degree that uniquely blended aerospace and journalism — and later, she built and taught a graduate course on technical communication for aerospace students.

“It taught me that there’s so much power in the way we communicate complex topics,” she said. “Helping engineers learn to express not just what they do, but why it matters — that’s what connects our field to the public.”

Finding Balance Between Technology and Strategy

Lee’s career evolved through some of the most dynamic corners of aerospace — from NASA to SpaceX, and later to Lockheed Martin. Along the way, she discovered her passion for connecting the dots between technical innovation and big-picture vision.

“I’ve worked in 100% technical roles and 100% non-technical roles,” she said. “Eventually, I realized my sweet spot was somewhere in the middle — where technology meets strategy.”

That middle ground allowed her to help organizations innovate not just in hardware, but in how they think, plan, and collaborate. “Strategy,” she explained, “is really about connecting technical excellence to purpose.”

Creating Belonging in Aerospace

Through her journey, Lee noticed something missing in the industry: a true sense of belonging. “When I started, the aerospace world was smaller, less accessible, and harder to navigate,” she said. “If you didn’t come from the right school or the right connections, it could be isolating.”

That challenge inspired one of her proudest achievements — co-founding the Brooke Owens Fellowship, a program that has changed the face of aerospace talent over the past decade.

Named after Brooke Owens, a brilliant young aerospace professional who passed away from cancer in her twenties, the fellowship provides mentorship, community, and opportunity for women and gender minorities in aerospace.

“What we wanted to do was find people who had both ability and heart,” Lee said. “We look for creativity, curiosity, and community engagement — the things that don’t always show up on a résumé.”

Since its founding, the fellowship has inspired spin-offs across the globe and created a vibrant network of alumni who have launched companies, joined NASA missions, and started their own nonprofits.

“Watching that community grow and lift others up has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” she said.

From the Skies to the Seas: Space Data for Good

After several years in commercial space, Lee joined Paul Allen’s Vulcan Aerospace, where she helped build Stratolaunch, the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan. But a single meeting changed her life.

“I was asked to sit in on a discussion about illegal fishing,” she said. “At first, I didn’t even know why I was there. But as I listened, I realized how powerful satellite data could be for protecting people and the planet.”

That revelation became a career pivot. “I walked out of that meeting knowing that’s what I wanted to do — use space data for good.”

She later brought that vision to Lockheed Martin, where she led Climate Intelligence, a program designed to harness aerospace technology for understanding and addressing global environmental change.

“If we can take what we’ve learned from space and apply it to protecting Earth — monitoring weather, agriculture, and ecosystems — that’s one of the most meaningful uses of aerospace technology I can imagine,” she said.

A Global Perspective on Inclusion

Lee’s advocacy doesn’t stop at the U.S. border. As a mentor for the United Nations’ “Space for Women” initiative, she’s worked with professionals from around the world to advance equity and opportunity in aerospace.

“It was an incredible experience,” she said. “We had women from 35 countries come together to talk about space access, education, and representation. It gave me a whole new perspective on how global this industry truly is.”

That experience reinforced her belief that space — like the planet it serves — is inherently collaborative. “The challenges we’re facing, from climate to communication, don’t have borders,” she said. “Our solutions can’t either.”

The Future of Aerospace: Beyond Technology

Looking ahead, Lee believes the next phase of aerospace will require new kinds of talent — and new ways of thinking.

“We’re going to need skill sets we’ve never thought of as ‘aerospace,’” she said. “Medical professionals, psychologists, accessibility experts, biologists, storytellers — all of them will play a role in building a sustainable space-faring civilization.”

She pointed to examples from her own network: a former Brooke Owens Fellow developing accessibility tools for astronauts, another studying Martian biology, and others building companies around space-based communications and climate data analytics.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time,” she said. “We’re learning that innovation isn’t just about better rockets — it’s about better humans working together.”

Advice for the Next Generation

When asked what advice she would give to students entering aerospace, Lee’s response was both practical and personal:

“Go look at the Brooke Owens Fellowship application. Even if you can’t apply, read the questions. They’ll challenge you to think creatively about who you are, how you serve your community, and what makes you unique.”

She emphasized that the next generation’s strength will come from diversity of thought and courage to lead.

“There’s no single path,” she said. “You don’t have to be the straight-A student or the rocket club president to make a difference. What matters is curiosity, creativity, and the willingness to show up.”

Full Circle: The Power of Community

As our conversation ended, Lee returned to the theme that has defined her entire career: community.

“When I was your age,” she told me, “we didn’t have this kind of network. It was competitive, siloed. Now, founders, engineers, and students from all over the world are working together — sharing knowledge, mentoring one another, building something bigger than themselves.”

For her, that’s the true evolution of aerospace — not just faster rockets, but a stronger human network behind them.

“Your generation has the opportunity to shape what space looks like — not just technologically, but culturally. That’s the real frontier.”