Many people dream big, but not everyone has that dream come true. However, this isn’t the case for one of Volusia County’s own, who set his sights on becoming an astronaut and beat the odds.
NASA announced that Luke Delaney, who was born in Miami and grew up in the small town of DeBary, is headed to the International Space Station this September after being selected to be the pilot of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. This will be his first mission to the International Space Station, joining Expedition 75.
The buzz around DeBary is kicking up, and the words – amazing, exciting, and proud – are just some of what people are saying when they hear the news.
“Luke Delaney is an inspiration to not only his hometown here in DeBary, but to people around the world who dare to dream big,” stated DeBary Mayor Karen Chasez. “We are so proud of his accomplishments and honored that DeBary is part of his story. We’ll be watching the skies for our neighbor this fall and wishing him a safe journey.”
Members of the Volusia County School system will also be watching this historic mission to space. Delaney attended Deland High School before graduating from Deltona High School in 1997. His experiences there had a great impact on him, and his math teacher at DeLand High School, Johnnie Ebbert, left a lasting impression on him.
“This is what Volusia County Schools is all about, planting seeds you may never see bloom and trusting that the work matters,” said Dr. Carmen Balgobin, superintendent of Volusia County Schools. “Mrs. Ebbert’s dedication clearly left a mark that reached all the way to the stars. We are proud of her legacy and thrilled for Luke as he embarks on this incredible mission.”
“Learning that a NASA astronaut credits a DeLand High School teacher with inspiring his path to space is exactly the kind of legacy we hope every VCS educator leaves behind,” said Volusia County Schools Chief Communications Officer Mike Micallef. “Mrs. Ebbert dedicated her career to sparking curiosity and possibility in her students, and Luke Delaney’s journey is a testament to that work.”
Delaney received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Florida in 2006 and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2016. In 2014, Delaney finished the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
Later, Delaney was selected to join the 2021 astronaut candidate class and reported for duty in January 2022. He is a distinguished naval aviator having participated in exercises throughout the Asia Pacific region and conducted combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to NASA’s website.
As a test pilot, he executed numerous flights evaluating weapon system integrations and served as a test pilot instructor. At the time of his selection as an astronaut candidate, Delaney worked as a Research Pilot at NASA’s Langley Research Center, where he supported airborne science missions, according to NASA.