Shooting for the Stars

From an early age, Therese Dela Rose dreamed of becoming an astronaut.

Therese Dela Rose after graduating from San Diego State University.

By Julie Knight

From an early age, Therese Dela Rose dreamed of becoming an astronaut. “I grew up believing the sky is never the limit if there are footprints on the moon,” Therese says.

Born in the Philippines, she came to the United States in 2005 at age 4. She credits her parents for nurturing her fascination for stargazing since she was a young child. “They took me to planetariums to learn about stars.”

Unlike a lot of kids, she never outgrew her interest in becoming an astronaut. Her passion led her to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes in high school, major in aerospace engineering at college and eventually join Northrop Grumman.

two people hugging and smiling with flowers

Therese’s parents encouraged her to dream big.

Starting in High School

In her senior year, Therese secured a year-round student internship at Northrop Grumman. “I left school early to spend a few hours daily at Northrop Grumman in San Diego. I was living my dream.”

She initially started with a business-focused internship but quickly shifted to her true interest, aerospace engineering. “My manager, Leanne Schelp, was amazing and helped me transition to an engineering group where I got to work in manufacturing and circuit design.”

Her high school internship experience helped her decide on a college major: aerospace engineering at San Diego State University.

While most internships end after a few months, Therese continued her internship throughout college, balancing work and studies. “I was fortunate to continue my internship year-round, since I attended college locally here in San Diego.”

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Perseverance Pays Off

Therese’s proactive approach significantly contributed to her success. She always expressed her interests and pursued every learning opportunity. If her workload ever slowed down, she offered to assist in other areas. This attitude kept her engaged and opened doors.

She received a full-time job offer to join Northrop Grumman as an associate aerospace engineer — a full year before her graduation. “I was on cloud nine. It was a proud moment and a relief, allowing me to focus on my studies without worrying about job-hunting.”

In college, she also served as president of the Aztec Council of Systems Engineering, a nonprofit organization that provides educational, networking, and career development opportunities for students.

Starting last October, Therese became a full-time associate aeronautical engineer at Northrop Grumman and has already received internal recognition.

To earn the recognition, she updated a mission plan to relocate the U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle, enabling it to temporarily operate from an airfield before being deployed to locations worldwide. The Triton, she explains, is used for Navy surveillance and reconnaissance.

Making a Good Impression

Therese advises her early career peers: “Don’t wait for an official mentor program. Seek advice from anyone you admire. Also, don’t limit yourself to just one mentor. You can have many. But be helpful to them in return. Raise your hand to volunteer. Give people reasons to support your success.”

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Therese continues to shoot for the stars. “I still want to be an astronaut. My next step is to learn a lot in my current role, then I’ll go back to school for a master's degree in aerospace engineering.”

She thanks her stellar parents for encouraging her to dream big. Her father, a mechanical engineer and first-generation immigrant, was an inspiration. He graduated top of his class at Lyceum of the Philippines University. “His achievements showed me what’s possible. He always supported my goals and helped me believe in myself.”

Her mom was another huge supporter. “She drove me to my internships during high school until I could drive myself. Both of my parents rooted for me to become the engineer I am today.”

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