NASA employee Daniel Forrestel participates in an employee incentive flying event with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and his personal F-5 aircraft, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman participates in an employee incentive flying event using his personal F-5 aircraft with NASA employees Daniel Forrestel and Ashley Scharfenberg, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/John Kraus)
Daniel Forrestel, manager, Ground and Missions Operations Office of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepares to put on a flight helmet on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew Forrestel on an employee incentive flight in Isaacman’s personal Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft around NASA Kennedy. As the newly appointed 15th administrator of the agency, Isaacman created a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities.
From left to right, Daniel Forrestel, manager, Ground and Missions Operations Office of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and Ashley Scharfenberg, Systems Engineering and Integration for Exploration Ground Systems, walk in their flight suits at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew Forrestel and Scharfenberg on an employee incentive in Isaacman’s personal Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft around NASA Kennedy. As the newly appointed 15th administrator of the agency, Isaacman created a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, (front center), followed by Ashley Scharfenberg, Systems Engineering and Integration for Exploration Ground Systems, (left), and Daniel Forrestel, manager, Ground and Missions Operations Office, prepare for an employee incentive flight at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew Forrestel and Scharfenberg in Isaacman’s personal Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft around NASA Kennedy. As the newly appointed 15th administrator of the agency, Isaacman created a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities.
Ashley Scharfenberg, Systems Engineering and Integration for Exploration Ground Systems, prepares for her employee incentive flight around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. As the newly appointed 15th administrator of the agency, Jared Isaacman created a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. Scharfenberg, and Daniel Forrestel, manager, Ground and Missions Operations Office, (not pictured), were the first two employees to be recognized in the ride-along program to fly in Isaacman’s personal Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft.
From left, Sean “Stroker” Gustafson, pilot, and Ashley Scharfenberg, Systems Engineering and Integration for Exploration Ground Systems, prepares for her employee incentive flight around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. As the newly appointed 15th administrator of the agency, Jared Isaacman created a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. Scharfenberg, and Daniel Forrestel, manager, Ground and Missions Operations Office, (not pictured), were the first two employees to be recognized in the ride-along program to fly in Isaacman’s personal Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft.