Victor Glover | Cal Poly

From Mustang to

Artemis II Pilot

Victor Glover (General Engineering ’99) is the pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon. Learn more about Glover's career as a NASA astronaut and all the ways he is connected to his alma mater, Cal Poly.

To the Moon and Back

The Artemis II mission will take Glover and his fellow crew members on a wide orbital path around the moon that will potentially bring them farther from Earth than humans have ever been before. As the engineering alumnus gets ready for the historic voyage, he sat down with Cal Poly Magazine to share how Learn by Doing prepared him to face the unknown.

Read the exclusive interview

Astronaut Victor Glover wears an orange flight suit

Ask an Astronaut

Is the Earth flat? Does food taste different in space? What are the best movies or TV shows about space? Do astronauts ever miss their friends while in orbit? Glover answers it all in this uniquely polytechnic interview with Cal Poly students and faculty.

Fast Facts about Victor Glover

Was part of Cal Poly's

Football and Wrestling

teams during his time as a student

Call sign is

“IKE”

which means “I Know Everything”

Completed

4 spacewalks

while in low Earth orbit

Spent

167 days

on the International Space Station

Member of the

Phi Beta Sigma

fraternity

Glover accumulated

3,000

flight hours in more than 40 aircraft as Navy and test pilot

Connecting with Mustangs

Over the years, Glover has made many trips back to Cal Poly's campus to share his experience as an astronaut and connect with students pursuing a variety of majors.

Astronaut Victor Glover wears a blue flight suit while talking with students in the Engineering Plaza at Cal Poly

Down to Earth

In 2022, after a historic mission to the International Space Station, Glover made his way back to 1 Grand Avenue. This time, he brought a few souvenirs from space and a fresh perspective he was eager to share with the Cal Poly community.

Tag Along with Victor

Astronaut Victor Glover kneels down to speak with young students at Cal Poly's Preschool Learning Lab

Over the Moon

Glover visited Cal Poly in 2024 while training for NASA’s Artemis II mission. He spoke with students tackling the challenges of space and flight — and stopped by the Preschool Learning Lab to answer very frank questions from some of the youngest kids on campus.

See the Photos

Victor Glover waves on a screenshot of a Zoom call with a space shuttle background. Seven smaller screens show students.

Inspiring Students From Space

As the nation grappled with a tumultuous year in 2021, Glover spoke to Black students from space, reassuring them of a better future on Earth.

Join the Conversation

From Mustang to the Moon

A timeline of Glover's journey as a Cal Poly student, Navy pilot and NASA astronaut.

A black and white image of a young Victor Glover with right hand raised while swearing an oath in front of a Naval officer in uniform

1998

Joining the Navy

Glover enters the Navy's Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program. According to a Mustang Daily article from January 1998, the program is designed to financially assist those working toward their bachelor's degree while training for a Naval Reserve officer position.

1999

A Bachelor's Degree

Glover earns a Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering from Cal Poly. He plans to travel the world during his eight-year commitment to the Navy, then earn his Ph.D. and become a college professor.

Victor Glover wears a helmet and tan flight suit while sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet

2001-2007

Naval Aviator and Test Pilot

Glover earns his wings as a Naval Aviator after attending primary flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. He attends U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, graduating in June 2007 as a test pilot and going on to test the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.

Victor Glover smiles with arms raised in front of an American Flag

2013

Becoming an Astronaut

NASA selects Glover to join the Astronaut Training Program with Astronaut Group 21. He completes the program in 2015. Glover is the fourth Cal Poly alumni who has become a NASA astronaut; the others are Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Rick "CJ" Sturckow and Greg Chamitoff.

Astronaut Victor Glover floats in micro gravity aboard the International Space Station while signing the wall near his mission's patch

2020

Traveling to the International Space Station

Glover pilots the SpaceX Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station, becoming the first African-American to have an extended stay on the ISS. During his six months in orbit, he completes four spacewalks as part of NASA's Expedition 64.

Four NASA Astronauts in orage space suits stand next to the Orion capusule

2026

Piloting the Artemis II Mission

Glover will pilot NASA's Artemis II mission and become the first person of color to go beyond low Earth orbit. The crew, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Hammock and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen will orbit around the moon and return to Earth after testing new equipment and systems. Artemis is NASA's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.

I challenge you to find a family that is more Cal Poly Proud than we are. Thank you to Cal Poly for continuing to provide opportunities for us to serve the Cal Poly community as mentors, advisors, coaches and now extremely proud Cal Poly parents.

Victor Glover

alumnus and astronaut

Glover accepted an honorary doctorate from Cal Poly in 2025. His wife Dionna, a child development major, and eldest daughter Genesis, a biological sciences major, also officially completed their bachelor's degrees that weekend.