AMERICA | An exceptional young woman, Naia Butler-Craig, has achieved a rare academic feat by earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering within just 10 years—while also making a real-world impact as a NASA technologist.
Naia’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience, faith, and consistency can turn even the most demanding paths into an outstanding journey.
Naia's Story and How She Did It
Naia’s journey into aerospace began in 2015 when she enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study Aerospace (Aeronautical) Engineering. She graduated in 2019 with a concentration in Astronautics and a minor in Computational Mathematics.
Her excellence stood out early, earning her the Excellence in Academics, Leadership, and Service Award from a graduating class of nearly 900 students.
She went on to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she pursued both her Master’s and PhD in Aerospace Engineering. But the journey was far from easy
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In 2023, she earned her Master’s degree, after navigating setbacks that included failing her PhD qualification exam early in the year, retaking and passing it months later, and enduring the painful loss of family members—all while pushing forward with demanding research.
Rather than slowing her down, these challenges strengthened her resolve. In 2025, Naia completed her PhD in Aerospace Engineering, marking the final milestone of a decade-long academic journey.
Along the way, she built an impressive professional profile. She served for nearly a decade as a NASA Pathways Intern at Glenn Research Center, became a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellow, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (2021) for her contributions to science.
She also received the Royal Astronomical Society’s Annie Maunder Medal (2023) as a member of Black In Astro.
Reflecting on her journey, Naia shared that there were moments she felt completely exhausted and unsure she could continue.
Her dissertation defense was nearly delayed again, but with faith, support from her advisor, and encouragement from her family, she was able to walk at commencement, an emotional victory she described as a testament to perseverance and community.
Naia’s research focuses on space electric propulsion, specifically Hall thrusters. Working in an experimental lab, she studies plasma behavior using Laser Thomson Scattering, contributing valuable insights into spacecraft propulsion systems and surface erosion—work with direct implications for future space missions.
Now that she is done with her studies, Naia’s long-term goal is to become a NASA mission specialist astronaut and contribute directly to human deep-space exploration.
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