Alumni & Friends Stories

Category: News & Information

Brenden Swanik, EG23: From UD to the Stars

For Brenden Swanik, EG23, the journey from the University of Delaware to managing space missions has been nothing short of stellar. As Mission Manager for Voyager Space, Swanik leads the complex process of designing, launching and operating satellites, ensuring successful deployment from vehicles like the International Space Station, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Firefly Alpha. With 35 satellites under his management, each contributing to scientific advancements, Swanik travels extensively across the U.S. and Canada for his projects and launches.

“It’s surreal to know that something I worked on is orbiting Earth or inside the ISS conducting critical research.”

“Launches truly are the most exciting, exhilarating and humbling moments of my career as it resembles a moment of accomplishment and a tangible step forward in humanity's ability to reach the stars.”

While Swanik’s career is groundbreaking, his contributions don’t end there. He hosts the podcast Chasing Space, which demystifies the space industry for over 5,000 listeners across 23 countries. From expert interviews to personal insights, the podcast highlights the accessibility and importance of space to everyday life.

“I want to show that space isn’t as distant as it seems—it impacts us in ways we don’t often realize,” he says. “I would recommend Episode 16 with Eric Stallmer, Episode 6 with Abby Dickes and Episode 11, during which I talk about the ISS. These provide fantastic context to the current state of the space industry from a diverse group of movers and shakers.”

Swanik is also committed to inspiring the next generation, which is evident in his volunteer roles, including evaluating UD engineering projects and mentoring K-12 students through the STARLAB Expert Link Panel.

Reflecting on his time at UD, he credits mentors and faculty with shaping his path and says it’s a full-circle moment to now guide future Blue Hens.

“Mentors are the reason I was able to land such a fantastic opportunity following my time at UD,” he says.

“I was inspired by UD faculty and staff such as Dr. Ashutosh Khandha from Biomedical Engineering, Kristin Benninghoff from Honors College and Jose-Luis Riera, VP for Student Life—as well as mentors around the world—who dedicated so much time to propel students to pursue their dreams and goals. I plan on carrying out this level of mentorship for the rest of my life,” he says.

Even with his impressive achievements, Swanik dreams of one day becoming an astronaut.

Until then, he’s focused on fostering international collaboration in space and advancing technologies that benefit humanity, such as global internet access, better means of pharmaceutical development and the discovery of rare minerals capable of reducing radiation in nuclear reactors.

Swanik’s journey proves that with passion, curiosity and determination, even the stars are within reach.

“Dream as big as you can,” he says. “You never know where those dreams might take you.”

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