NASA’s John McCullough to visit Stark State College Oct. 13 for discussion on the future of space exploration and aerospace careers

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2026 – John A. McCullough, director of Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) within NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate, will visit Stark State College on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to discuss the agency’s exploration plans for the moon and Mars and how that future feeds forward to a strong need for careers in engineering, science, technology and communications.

The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the College’s Business and Entrepreneurial Center and is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

During the event, Mr. McCullough will provide an inside look at NASA’s evolving technologies shaping the future of human spaceflight. Topics will include:

• Recent and exciting developments of Artemis and Moon Base.
• How NASA is evolving to meet the future.
• Career opportunities and pathways in the aerospace industry.

Mr. McCullough will also share his own journey from growing up in Ohio to becoming a leader at NASA over the last 37 years, where he has served in many key roles, including Space Shuttle flight controller, Chief Flight Director for Human Spaceflight, and Director of Exploration Integration, Architecture and Science at the Johnson Space Center. He has been a part of many programs including Shuttle, ISS, Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). John has served at NASA HQ for the last four years as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Integration in human exploration and now most recently as Director of SCaN.

The presentation will conclude with a question-and-answer session. Click here to register. For more information, contact Claudia Barr, department chair of chemistry and physics, at 234-395-7638 or cbarr@starkstate.edu.