Journey from the Corps to the Cosmos: An Exclusive Interview with Jaden Caradine

From a young age, Jaden Caradine was resolute about pursuing a career in engineering; however, his journey was far from linear. Before enrolling at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, before he uncovered his specific field of interest, and before securing a Pathways internship at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Caradine dedicated five years of service as a mechanic in the United States Marine Corps, with four of those years stationed in Japan. This intentional diversion has significantly influenced his approach to both life and career.

“I’ve always had a clear vision of becoming an engineer,” Caradine reflects. “The challenge was determining which type of engineering would suit me best.”

Early Influences and Aspirations

Raised in the Salt Lake City area, Caradine’s mother introduced him to snowboarding at the tender age of four and soon thereafter encouraged him to explore rock climbing. He developed a passion for science not merely for its academic allure but for its practical applications. “Math is an enabling skill,” he asserts. “It’s not just about solving equations; it serves a purpose and is fundamentally useful.”

When asked about his future aspirations as a child, the answer was unequivocal. “I was engrossed in building with Legos,” he recalls, “and it struck me — I want to create things. I couldn’t envision myself in any role other than that of an engineer.”

Immediately after high school, Caradine enlisted in the Marines, trained as a mechanic, and was deployed to Japan. Throughout those five years, amidst technical responsibilities and the separation from home, he delved into literature on decision-making, career strategies, and long-range planning. He discovered a concept that resonated deeply with him: ikigai, a Japanese term representing the convergence of what one excels at, what they enjoy, what the world requires, and what they can earn a living doing.

Discovering Aerospace Engineering

“Your ikigai is where all these elements intersect,” he explains, noting that engineering was already a factor in his equation. The question remained, which discipline? His answer materialised through research into a pioneering company he came across while exploring the burgeoning field of aerospace technology. This company was employing magnets to propel a launch system to 14,000 or 15,000 RPM, enabling the release of small satellites into orbit while harnessing energy during descent via the same magnetic mechanism. “I found that fascinating,” he enthuses. “That led me to aerospace engineering, which felt like a natural fit.”

With a clearer direction, Caradine transferred to the Daytona Beach campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study aerospace engineering. He immersed himself in opportunities, attending satellite conferences at the Kennedy Space Center, industry events in Orlando, and small satellite meetups back in Salt Lake City. “I attended every career fair, even though I wasn’t actively job-hunting,” he mentions. “I was eager to absorb knowledge as quickly as possible.”

At each NASA booth, he posed questions, learning about the Pathways programme designed to place undergraduate and graduate students at NASA centres with the potential for conversion to permanent civil service roles. He opted to delay his application for a year, recognising he needed to enhance his profile before applying. “I approached my initial submission as a practice run. To my surprise, I was accepted,” he shares.

Internship Experience at NASA

Caradine’s decision to join NASA instead of the private sector was straightforward. “NASA operates not for profit,” he states. “Our mission is to eliminate barriers, enabling industries to achieve what they previously could not.”

At NASA Langley, he is part of the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate, contributing to strategic decision-making processes that encompass numerous variables. Specifically, he collaborates with the in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) team, focusing on developing infrastructures in space rather than merely launching and discarding components.

A significant part of his summer involved compiling the State of Play, a comprehensive document consolidating activities in the ISAM sector across government, academia, and industry into an accessible resource. “Jaden joined our team and made immediate contributions to this year’s State of Play update,” notes Dale Arney, an aerospace engineer and Caradine’s mentor. “He also developed an automated tool to streamline future updates.”

Innovations and Team Dynamics at NASA

This tool aggregates aerospace news from various online sources, organising relevant updates into structured tables and producing regular summaries. “It replaced the necessity for team members to spend 30 to 40 minutes daily sifting through news to remain informed,” Caradine explains.

“Jaden consistently sought ways to enhance himself, the team’s performance, and our output,” Arney adds. “He was keen to lead initiatives to trial new processes and ideas to benefit our work.”

What caught Caradine off guard during his tenure at NASA Langley was the collaborative culture. He had anticipated some degree of departmental isolation typical in large organisations, where experts operate within narrow confines with limited interaction across teams. “That’s not the case here,” he asserts. “We communicate across all teams, sharing resources and collaborating extensively. There’s an expectation for everyone to engage with the broader problem, rather than just their own segment.”

Caradine describes a culture that encourages team members to rotate across different teams to grasp the entirety of challenges and offer mutual support.

Future Aspirations and Literary Interests

As he prepares to return to Embry-Riddle as a junior in the autumn, Caradine already has plans to return to Langley next summer. He is also contemplating graduate studies, exploring programmes that foster crucial analytical skills for Strategic, Management, and Business (SMAB) fields, including decision-making, strategy formulation, and systems analysis.

“Before my experience here, I attempted to cast a wide net and engage in everything,” he reflects. “Now, I have clarity on the skills I need to cultivate. This newfound focus will allow me to concentrate on high-value competencies.”

Though Caradine’s instincts lean more towards fantasy literature than science fiction, he has found resonance in Kurt Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan. “I appreciate the aspect of continuous improvement — the drive to get better,” he says. “In literature, that might manifest as physical strength, but in reality, strength can take many forms. The pursuit of constant improvement is rewarding, both in fiction and in life.”

He also mentions being encouraged to start reading Dune by Frank Herbert, with his journey through that narrative halfway complete.

As Caradine continues his path within the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA’s Langley Research Center, he exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives the agency forward in its mission to explore and expand human capabilities in space.