July 7, 2026

Ferris State grad Francisco Vasquez launches career in space exploration with new role with Blue Origin

Francisco Vasquez continues to reach for the stars both on Earth and in outer space as the Ferris State University alumnus recently accepted a position with Blue Origin’s Avionics and Navigation Integration team.

Originally founded nearly 26 years ago, Blue Origin was launched by Jeff Bezos to find new ways for reusability of rockets, lunar exploration projects, and eventually expanding humanity into the solar system.

Vasquez’s opportunity starts later this summer, as he is excited to continue growing as an engineer while contributing to missions that push the boundaries of exploration. He will be working at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

“My work will focus on the integration of avionics and navigation systems for the New Glenn program, supporting activities related to both the first and second stages of the launch vehicle,” he said. “I will be part of the team responsible for integrating, verifying, and preparing these critical systems before flight, ensuring the vehicle is ready for launch operations.”

He mentioned that his work duties also contribute to Blue Origin’s involvement in NASA’s Artemis program. New Glenn has been selected to launch logistics missions that will transport cargo to lunar orbit to supply the Gateway Station and support future human exploration missions to the moon.

After this stage, the plan is to move into the Blue Moon Mark I and Mark II programs and eventually continue contributing to the development of the infrastructure required for sustained human presence on the lunar surface, including the establishment of the first lunar base within the Artemis mission’s framework.

“Knowing that the systems I will help integrate will contribute to enabling these missions is truly inspiring,” Vasquez said, as he knows this opportunity will also make him a better teammate.

“Working at Blue Origin will allow me to grow technically while also strengthening the skills that matter just as much. … I look forward to learning from experienced engineers, sharing my own perspective, and contributing to an environment where continuous improvement and innovation are part of everyday work.”

Vasquez admitted that when he first came to the United States in 2018, he had no clue how his passion for space exploration could become his everyday reality. Fast forward to enrolling at Ferris State University in 2021 to study aerospace engineering, he knew that the opportunities were endless after graduating as a Bulldog.

“It is incredible to look back and see everything that has happened over the past few years. I went from working on university projects and research in astronomy to having the opportunity to directly contribute to the next generation of space exploration. In that journey, Dr. (Dinesh) Shetty played an important role by supporting me through different stages of the process that brought me here,” he said.

Although he may be the first Bulldog to join the aerospace industry in a project of this magnitude and importance for humanity at Blue Origin, Vasquez doesn’t plan to stop there. He’s already made an impact with collaborated astronomy research that was later adopted by the U.S. Naval Observatory for researchers to use around the globe and more recently joined NASA’s L’SPACE program to continue work on a multidisciplinary project focused on long-duration space missions, with far more career achievements between those moments.

No matter what educational and professional space programs he joins in the future, he knows that his individual and team success can never be limited to a position or certification.

“Blue Origin is not simply the next step in my career. It represents the continuation of a dream that has guided me for many years. I have never measured success only by a job title or an academic degree,” Vasquez said.

“What truly motivates me is the opportunity to contribute to something much bigger than myself to help build the technology that expands humanity's presence in space and inspires future generations to believe that even the most ambitious dreams can become reality.”