NASA Ambassador to Show Gwinnett Teens the Careers Hidden Behind the Astronaut Spotlight

Most people picture an astronaut when they think of working for NASA. Johnathan Brackett, a NASA Ambassador, is coming to Buford to complicate that picture — and he's bringing a free hour to do it.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Brackett will present at the Buford-Sugar Hill Branch Library, 2100 Buford Hwy, Buford, GA, walking attendees through the wide range of careers available at the agency beyond the roles that make the headlines.

The session is open to ages 12 and up and covers positions including scientists, climatologists, mathematicians, IT specialists, and communications professionals, according to the Gwinnett Public Library and Ready Set Gwinnett.

NASA's own careers page puts the scope in plain terms: more than 18,000 professionals work across the country in laboratories, wind tunnels, airfields, control rooms, and office buildings. 'NASA is more than astronauts,' the agency states. 'We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resource specialists, accountants, writers, photographers, and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.'

For a young person in Gwinnett County weighing a future in STEM — or even in writing, photography, or logistics — the event is a rare chance to hear directly from someone whose job is to connect communities to those opportunities.

NASA lists multiple entry points for those eventually ready to apply: the Pathways Internship Program, which offers multi-semester experiences and a direct pipeline to full-time employment upon graduation; NASA Force, aimed at engineers, technologists, and innovators tackling mission-critical challenges; and special hiring authorities for veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA alumni, according to nasa.gov.

No registration details were listed in available sources, but the event is categorized under STEM — Science, STEM — Technology, STEM — Engineering, Jobs & Career, and Education by the Gwinnett Public Library system.

Why it matters — For Gwinnett County students aged 12 and up — and their parents — this is a direct, local window into one of the country's largest technical employers at a moment when career decisions are forming.

Reported by readysetgwinnett.com, gwinnettpl.libnet.info, nasa.gov