No matter how far we reach for the stars, history offers invaluable lessons to guide us. In the summer of 2024, The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg (LLI) hosted 90 leaders from NASA’s Moon to Mars mission for a special session of the Transformational Leadership Journey from Gettysburg program. Participants included members of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Program, Orion Program, Gateway Program, Human Landing System Program, Exploration Ground Systems, and Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility—all instrumental players in NASA’s ambitious Artemis campaign to return humans to the Moon and push onward to Mars.
In an extraordinary convergence of history and innovation, these brilliant leaders from NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Axiom, Jacobs, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, United Launch Alliance, and Rocketdyne immersed themselves in case studies inspired by the Battle of Gettysburg and the leadership of Abraham Lincoln. The sessions were designed to strengthen the management skills needed to navigate intricate, high-stakes projects like the Artemis mission—what NASA calls “the most complex mission that humanity has ever undertaken.”
LLI’s unique approach of combining historical lessons from one of America’s most defining battles with modern leadership principles provides crucial insights for an undertaking as monumental as the Artemis mission. As NASA prepares to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and pave the way for human exploration of Mars, collaboration and leadership are more critical than ever. This mission requires not only technical brilliance but also visionary leadership, adaptability, and the ability to inspire and unite teams working toward a shared goal.
LLI has helped leaders from across industries and government sectors sharpen their leadership skills for over 25 years, welcoming more than 30,000 participants, including members from all 15 U.S. federal departments and over 100 agencies. Through the Transformational Leadership Journey, LLI integrates powerful lessons from history with cutting-edge leadership strategies. The program is taught by world-class faculty, including renowned Lincoln scholars, executive coaching experts, and a retired Rear Admiral who led the Navy SEAL mission that rescued Captain Richard Phillips.
For the leaders of NASA’s Moon to Mars mission, these historical lessons from Gettysburg offered a fresh perspective on teamwork, decision-making under pressure, and the importance of resilience—qualities that will be crucial as they work to bring humans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. By embracing the lessons of the past, these leaders are charting a course for humanity’s future in space, inspired by the collaborative spirit and visionary leadership that the Artemis campaign embodies.
Interested in Transforming Your Leadership?
The same transformational leadership journey is available to leaders from all industries who want to tap into history’s most enduring lessons. To register for your own unique leadership program, visit gettysburgleadership.com/register.
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