Jeff Hessel's first job out of college in 1968 with a BS Mechanical Engineering degree was to work at Cape Canaveral, ground zero of our space program, during the height of the Space Race and time of the Apollo Program. He supported all military and NASA launches and witnessed the Apollo 11 launch in 1969. Now retired, he recounts his experiences and has appeared before numerous communities, clubs, senior living centers, and professional societies. He has addressed high school STEM students and university level engineering students. He was the keynote speaker at the 50th Space Congress in Orlando. Jeff is passionate about sharing his experiences as well the more recent NASA goals and missions with the general public whether they be public school students or senior citizens.