From Repairing Gym Equipment to Designing American Spacecraft

Madison Gast ’20 still pinches herself each day to make sure her job designing spacecraft for a local defense company isn’t just a dream.

Her current projects include designing structures and components for the Orion Crew Module and various NASA small-satellite missions. 

“This is my dream job,” said the senior mechanical engineer. “And I get to do it right from my own backyard.”

Madison’s academic journey, like so many of CU Denver’s students, wasn’t a straight line. It was CU Denver’s flexibility and blend of classroom instruction and practical experience in the heart of the city that drew her back to school and played a huge role in achieving her success.

“I love CU Denver,” said the Colorado native. “It was a great experience which led me to where I am today.”

Gast graduated from Cherokee Trail High School and attended Metropolitan State University of Denver where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. 

“I finished, but quickly figured out it wasn’t what I was truly passionate about,” she said. She took a job at a local gym where she was a facility operations supervisor working 45-50 hours a week doing janitorial services, pool maintenance, and minor fitness machine maintenance. But the idea of being part of space exploration kept calling out to her. So, after a year of work, she decided to chase her dream. 

“I was lucky to have a flexible schedule at CU Denver, which allowed me to work from 6 a.m. -2 p.m., and then head to campus for classes that started at 3:30, ensuring that I didn’t have to sacrifice my education nor my paycheck,” Madison said. 

Because of her chemistry degree, many of the mechanical engineering pre-requisites were fulfilled, which means she graduated in three years. Gast finished her required courses and focused on gaining practical experience. 

She was able to get hands-on technical and troubleshooting experience with Computer Numerical Control mills, lathe machines, and wire Electrical Discharge Machines, while learning how to design components to align with certain machining abilities and limitations. She also designed, analyzed, and tested numerous parts using design software, that she was then able to fully manufacture as physical parts on campus. That included some parts made from laborious carbon fiber layup processes completed by hand. During her capstone project she also led a team of peers which taught her leadership skills, how to work in a team, and how to leverage strengths of each individual to create collective team success. She also joined and eventually served as president and treasurer for the CU Denver chapter of Tau Beta Pi (the Engineering Honor Society).

“During my interview for my current employer, I mentioned my experiences and I was encouraged to hear that CU Denver offered me unique opportunities that set me apart from others,” Gast said. 

She had a full-time job offer when she earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and started promptly following graduation.

Although her schedule was grueling working and going to school full time, she said it was well worth it. She got to work with faculty that were supportive and challenged her to solve problems. Gast’s classmates taught her that a diversity of perspectives, based on lived experiences, leads to better engineering solutions. Going back to school at CU Denver was the best decision, she said.

“I always enjoyed building things, whether that be with LEGOs, origami, model kits, etc., and I knew that building things and problem solving were things that I deeply enjoyed,” she said. “And that’s exactly what I get to do every day at my job.”

Madison Gast