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Christopher Cassidy ’93 - Voices from Orbit - Season 1 Ep. 2
We sit down with CAPT Christopher Cassidy ’93, USN (Ret.), whose remarkable career has taken him from the U.S. Naval Academy to Navy SEAL teams, NASA, and ultimately the command of the International Space Station (ISS). Cassidy reflects on the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shaped his journey, sharing stories from spaceflight, military service, and leadership in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. From launching into orbit to living and working hundreds of miles above Earth, this conversation offers a fascinating look at exploration, resilience, and the enduring impact of a Naval Academy education. Join us for an inspiring discussion with one of the Academy’s most accomplished graduates as we continue our Voices from Orbit series celebrating USNA alumni who have ventured beyond our planet.
Given the choice between a lifeline on the moon or 8 ounces of fuel, Charlie Duke ’57 naturally chose the fuel. While the lifeline would’ve linked him to another astronaut on the moon in case of an emergency, that fuel could get them further on the lunar surface. Charlie dreamed of flying as a child in Lancaster, SC. He took his chances in the Air Force out of the Naval Academy and he threw caution to the wind for his moon walk. He was calculated risk taker who exemplifies the honor, courage and commitment values ingrained in Bancroft Hall. Charlie Duke was the youngest of 12 men to walk on the moon and one of three Naval Academy alumni in that exclusive club. We had the privilege to interview Charlie as the first guest of the Voices From Orbit podcast which launches on 4 August 2026. This monthly podcast, hosted by Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts, will feature moon walkers, Space Shuttle pilots, NASA administrators, commercial astronauts and the next generation of astronauts who will return to the moon and set the path for Mars landings. Join us for the premiere episode of Voices From Orbit as Charlie shares his incredible journey from small-town South Carolina to Annapolis to Air Force aviator to lunar module pilot for the Apollo 16 mission. Voices from Orbit is a podcast focusing on USNA alumni who are in the exclusive club of NASA astronauts. As the U.S. space program enters its next exciting phase-returning to the Moon and reaching Mars-there is growing demand to better understand what it will take to achieve these lofty goals and why USNA alumni are among the best suited to make them a reality. This monthly podcast will feature moon walkers, Space Shuttle pilots, NASA Administrators, commercial astronauts and the next generation of astronauts who will return to the moon and set the path for Mars landings.