Astronaut Victor Glover returns to Cal Poly in full-time administrative role
Victor Glover. Photo by Senior University Photographer Joe Johnston.
Former NASA astronaut will focus on strategic initiatives and partnerships
– Cal Poly announced that alum and recently retired U.S. Navy captain and emeritus NASA astronaut Victor Glover has taken a full-time administrative leadership position with the university, effective Sept. 1.
Glover, who piloted NASA’s Artemis II mission around the moon in spring 2026, will provide counsel to President Jeffrey D. Armstrong and other senior leaders. In his new role, Glover will help shape long-term strategies for the university, including the Cal Poly Maritime Academy, with a focus on polytechnic education, research innovation, and workforce production.
“My Learn by Doing experience at Cal Poly was the launch pad for my journeys around the world and the moon,” Glover said. “Though I feel like I’ve never left, to be able to come back to this institution that has meant so much to me and to my family is a gift. I am excited to give that gift in service to student success!”
Glover will work with the president, provost, college deans, and other university leaders to identify, develop, and accelerate strategic initiatives, partnerships, and philanthropy aimed at expanding the university’s leadership in engineering, applied computing, aerospace, aviation, maritime, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and national defense.
He will also serve as an ambassador for the university, representing Cal Poly at strategic engagements and championing initiatives that inspire the next generation of students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.
Glover graduated from Cal Poly in 1999 with a degree in engineering. He has pointed to the university’s Learn by Doing education and his experience as a student-athlete in wrestling and football as key to his professional success as a Navy fighter pilot, a legislative fellow with Sen. John McCain, and his work with NASA.
“I could not be more thrilled to have Victor back to Cal Poly and work alongside him to accelerate our success with Learn by Doing and keep it thriving for decades to come,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “Victor is the embodiment of how far Learn by Doing can propel a Cal Poly graduate, and we share a vision of ensuring that our university continues to produce future generations of pioneers and leaders.”
Glover joins Cal Poly after retiring from the Navy and transitioning to NASA emeritus.
His space exploration work included piloting the second crewed flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, living aboard the International Space Station for 168 days from November 2020 to May 2021, and traveling beyond low Earth orbit and around the moon as part of Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft.
Artemis II was the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. Glover and his fellow crew members sent images and descriptions of the moon’s far side during the mission.
Glover’s family also has connections to Cal Poly. His wife, Dionna, is an alumna, and the two met on campus while they were students in the 1990s. The couple have four daughters, all of whom are Cal Poly students or recent graduates.
