Classmate Spotlight- Chris Shaw

Name:  Chris Shaw
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Currently Residing: Houston, TX
Business/Profession: NASA, Astronaut Instructor and Flight Controller

Activities Involved in at A&M:
Corps of Cadets, Squadron 17, First Wing Commander
Ross Volunteer Company, Executive Officer
Muster Committee, Host Coordinator
The Nichol’s Rising Leaders Conference, Director of Programming
St. Mary’s Aggie Awakening Retreat Staff
St. Mary’s Welcome Weekend Retreat Staff
Flag Football Intramural Athletics

Most favorable Aggie Experience:
This question is like asking who my favorite child is…I love them all!!  I cherish so many of my Aggie experiences as they all have had a lasting impact on my life today.  As a member of the Corps of Cadets, I treasure my experiences with my buddies and the lifetime of fellowship that has followed.  As a Ross Volunteer, I will never forget the impact of Silver Taps and Muster as the student body stands as one in support of the families who have lost their loved ones.   As a senior, the memory of my engagement under the century tree is something I hold near and dear as my wife and I join the long tradition of Aggie happily ever after stories - a story, which for us, began at no other than Midnight Yell (WHOOP!).   Now, as a parent, my favorite Aggie experiences are watching the awe and wonder of my children as they experience step-off for the first time and say their first “Howdy”.

How has your time at Texas A&M impacted where you are today, personally and professionally?  

My time at Texas A&M taught me the true meaning of service before self; something that I use on a daily basis both personally and professionally.  Personally, it has blessed my family life as my wife and I share the honor of raising our 4, soon to be 5, children.  Professionally it has allowed me to excel on the job in ways that I never could have imagined.  At NASA, my job is to train and instruct astronauts prior to their flight in space and then execute the mission from the control center during flight.   Everyday, these astronauts put their lives in our hands to faithfully and successfully execute the mission.  They trust us to teach them the skills they will need to overcome the challenges spaceflight will bring.  Teamwork, excellence, integrity and leadership are essential to this role.  It is through my development at Texas A&M that has allowed me to successfully train these men and women as well as innovate new training mechanisms to improve the quality of their spaceflight. These leadership skills have allowed me to improve training quality here at home as well as internationally as it is also my job to coordinate training with our Russian counterparts in Moscow.  Through the skills I learned during my time in the Corps of Cadets and my time at Texas A&M, I have had the honor and privilege of seeing many of my trainees successfully enter space and safely return home.

Favorite  Hobbies outside of work?
Spending time with the kids
Advocating for the rights of all human life
Aggie football
Golf

What you appreciate most about A&M?
What I appreciate most about Texas A&M is the development of the individual.  Texas A&M develops the whole person.  The university creates the leaders of both today and tomorrow.  It instills values within the student body, values that are shared across the Aggie Family.  “Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal” is our motto, and service before self is our guiding principle.  The institution embodies character, optimism and passion, the cornerstones of leadership.  The development of the individual student at Texas A&M pours over into society and changes the world for the better.  Everyone is important in the Aggie Family, and everyone matters.  We are all united in our love for taking part in something larger than ourselves.
I am often asked by friends in puzzlement why do we Aggies have so much passion for our alma mater.  The answer is simple - because the university has given us so much.  We love our university because of the positive impact it has had on us.   The education, the friendships, the network and the passion for excellence molds us as individuals and continues to bring out the best in us today.  For that, I am forever grateful. 

Gig’em, Ags!