• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2025

• Claremont McKenna College, Government (Political Science), ‘26

• Host Institution: BryceTech

My name is Chad McElroy, and I am a current junior at Claremont McKenna College studying Government. I was born and raised in Concord, California, and attended high school at the Athenian School in Danville, CA. Going forward, I hope to translate that passion into a career of public service for the benefit of Earth. Public service is a core part of who I am, and I have taken advantage of various opportunities on campus and beyond to be of-service to the communities that have helped shape the man I am today. At both The Athenian School and Claremont McKenna, I served in multiple leadership positions in student government in order to support student engagement and enact policy change on behalf of the student body. At the Rose Institute for State and Local Government, I investigate pressing political and economic issues pertaining to my local community in Southern California’s Inland Empire. Beyond campus, I have served as an election poll worker in my home county of Contra Costa and contributed to local professional fellowship groups, culminating in being awarded the Willie C. Archie Scholarship of Excellence on behalf of the Diablo Black Men’s Group. Space has been a passion of mine ever since I could walk. In high school, I joined robotics teams (go FRC #852!) and took online classes on orbital mechanics and rocket propulsion in order to better understand the real science behind these incredibly complex systems. At the same time, I had a dueling passion for politics, current events, history, and public service. I knew that I wanted to serve others in the world of governance, but I did not know how I could make these two seemingly opposite interests align. Throughout my time at Claremont McKenna, I was connected with alumni and mentors who demonstrated that space policy was a real and critical field, and most importantly, that Black Americans do belong in the space community. In the fall of 2024, I was blessed with the opportunity to work at NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce, the premier federal space agency within the Department of Commerce, as part of Claremont McKenna’s Washington Program. There, I served with a hardworking team working hard to support a vibrant aerospace industry. Ultimately, I hope to ensure that future generations and marginalized communities back here on Earth may benefit from the innovations we make in space exploration and space commerce. Outside of work, I enjoy practicing photography, specializing in landscape, architecture, spaceflight, and aviation. Additionally, I cherish California’s natural beauty by going on hikes, camping, and backpacking across the Golden State. I also enjoy watching baseball, reading political history, and cycling.