Alumni Spotlight

MONIQUE GARCIA, Class of 2019

Monique Garcia, ’19, didn’t realize when she started her military career as a teenager that her path would lead her to Mars one day.

Monique joined the Air National Guard in 2008 and started Basic Military Training (BMT) on her 19th birthday. It is here that she met Hal Byers ’00, a CBU alumni. Hal was the 163rd Communications Flight Officer in Charge (OIC); he was later commissioned as an officer after completing his degree from CBU. He became a great mentor to Monique and guided her personally and professionally. His deep faith in her made Monique feel she could accomplish anything. Because of his encouragement, she pursued college courses. As a result, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in 2013 from another university. Monique stayed on as an active member of the California Air National Guard until 2018 and enlisted into the Colorado Air National Guard from 2018 to 2020.

Unfortunately, Hal tragically passed away in 2017. It was a very difficult time for Monique as she cherished not only the mentor Hal was to her but the friend he had become. So when Monique decided to continue her education, she looked to California Baptist University. Hal was an alumnus, and Monique knew he would have been proud to see her pursue her Master of Science in Kinesiology at CBU. She knew that because this school meant something to her personally, her education in the program would be more fulfilling and bring more joy to her life. Monique wasn’t clear on her goals after completing the program, but deep down, she knew this was where she was meant to be. And her faith took her farther than she ever could have imagined.

During her studies at CBU, Monique immersed herself in learning the physiological and psychological effects on humans during long spaceflight. She was fascinated with human spaceflight and realized that she needed to be involved in research with the space industry. She learned about NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) program and applied to be a crew member in 2020. HERA uses an analog simulated mission to Mars to better understand the effects of long-duration human spaceflight. After an extensive application process, psychological evaluations and modified flight physicals, Monique was accepted to the mission and participated in HERA in October 2021. She spent 45 days with three other crew members, as brilliant and passionate about human space exploration as she is, in a simulation of a mission to Mars.

Currently, Monique works for The MIT Research and Engineering Corporation (MITRE Corp.) as a human factors engineer. The organization is a federally funded research and development center. It works with many government agencies on solving problems for a safer world. Her primary focus is on developing a user interface for a telescope sensor that will be utilized for NASA’s Deep Space Network. Monique feels she is truly living her purpose and finds great satisfaction in making meaningful contributions to projects that will help further space exploration and assist in developing research in the long-duration human spaceflight regarding human factors and behavioral performance. Her experience with NASA HERA gave her a fresh perspective and will aid in furthering her research for future missions.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for her family since her husband was also serving in the Air National Guard. At the same time, they both also worked civilian jobs. Childcare became problematic. With over 12 years of service in the Air National Guard, Monique decided to hang up her uniform in 2020. However, the blessing of the pandemic was that it helped accelerate Monique’s path into space research and development.

Monique lives in Colorado with her husband, Trevor and son, Jameson. She credits her husband for his encouragement and support while she chased her dreams, and she hopes that she has set an example for her son to follow his passions and purpose in life.

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