After nearly a decade contributing to NASA’s most ambitious missions, Brandon Lentz, marketing instructor and Missouri State University alumnus, received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.

One of the agency’s highest honors, the award recognizes significant contributions to science, operations and mission outcomes.

“It’s more than a medal. It represents teamwork and dedication to something greater,” he said.

Today, the Missouri native has returned home, transforming his experience into inspiration for students at Missouri State.

A life built on service

Growing up in Blue Eye, Missouri, Lentz learned the value of hard work early. At 18, he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in security forces and guarding the B-2 stealth bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base. Later, he was stationed in Italy on a NATO mission. After his active-duty service, Lentz joined the Air Force Reserve as an aerospace medical technician and returned to Missouri to continue his education.

Enrolling at Missouri State in 2012, he discovered a new passion for logistics and supply chain management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2017 and his master’s degree in project management in 2019.

“Studying logistics and supply chain management gave me a framework to understand how the world works. Missouri State was where I found my path,” he said.

From the Air Force to NASA: A dream realized

While serving in the Air Force Reserve and completing his studies at Missouri State, Lentz attended a networking event in Miami, Florida, where he discovered the Pathways Program, a federal initiative that helps students and recent graduates begin careers in government service. That discovery opened the door for him to join NASA in 2018.

Lentz’s love of science started during his childhood. A mural of Earthrise, the first color photograph of Earth taken from astronauts in orbit, covered the wall of his elementary school.

“I used to run my hand across that picture every day,” he said. “It was a dream come true.”

At NASA, he spent almost 10 years advancing projects in Earth Science, water extraction research on the Moon and Mars, and helping stand up the NASA Acquisition Innovation Launchpad. Lentz ended his tour as a senior contracting officer for the office of procurement headquartered in Washington, D.C.

He helped manage contracting efforts for the Mars Sample Return studies, a mission to bring rock samples from Mars back to Earth. His team completed eight research contracts in just 35 days, setting a record pace that pushed NASA’s mission forward.

“Normally, one takes three to six months. That speed was unheard of and changed the way we conducted those types of procurements,” he said.

From rejection to inspiration

Lentz’s journey has not been easy, but he believes that perseverance can change everything. Before NASA said yes, he applied for more than 300 government jobs. Nearly all were rejected until one opportunity changed everything.

“Reach for the stars. You’re good enough. It only takes one yes,” he said.

Now, he encourages his students to lead with heart and resilience.

“Care about what you do,” Lentz said. “You’ll face challenges, but if you show up, care and work hard, you’ll stand out.”

He believes that mindset reflects the spirit of Missouri State and the Ozarks, a community built on work ethic, service and care.

Coming home to give back

When family circumstances brought him back to Missouri earlier this year, Lentz saw the move as a chance to give back to the place that helped shape him.

“When I was a student here, Dr. Patrick Sells, my statistics professor, told me, ‘Go out into the world, learn something, get good at it and then give it back,’” he said. “That’s what I want to do now.”

As a full-time instructor in the College of Business, Lentz teaches logistics and supply chain management. He brings real-world experience from NASA and his ongoing service in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a supply corps officer, into the classroom.

“I want students to see that logistics isn’t just about moving goods,” he said. “It’s about enabling missions.”

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