Chris Hadfield

Astronaut | First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station

In Order to Achieve Excellence You Need a Definition of Success

13 Moments That Changed My Life

TED2014: What I Learned From Going Blind In Space

What Music Means to Me

Chris Hadfield - An Introduction

In Order to Achieve Excellence You Need a Definition of Success

13 Moments That Changed My Life

TED2014: What I Learned From Going Blind In Space

What Music Means to Me

Chris Hadfield - An Introduction

Called “the most famous astronaut since Neil Armstrong,” Colonel Chris Hadfield is a heavily decorated astronaut, engineer, and pilot who has become a worldwide sensation. His rendition of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” has been seen by over 75 million people and was called “possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created” by Bowie himself. Hadfield is a uniquely experienced leader who shares best practices and tactics on leading teams through complexity and change, while also sharing the marvels and wonders of science and space to everyone he encounters.

Formerly NASA’s director of operations, Hadfield spent more than three decades working for NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. Throughout his distinguished career, he has flown three space missions, built two space stations, performed two spacewalks, crewed the Shuttle and Soyuz, and, in 2013, commanded the International Space Station for six months. His many awards and recognitions include the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

Hadfield is the author of five internationally bestselling books: two non-fiction books, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth and You Are Here; a children’s book, The Darkest Dark; and two fiction books, The Apollo Murders and The Defector. His children’s book was turned into a play for young audiences in 2023. Hadfield has also released a musical album, Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can, which is the first album to be recorded in space.

Hadfield is acclaimed for making outer space accessible to all. His keynote presentations have been called “an astonishing display of visual storytelling” by Harvard Business Review, and his TED talk “What I Learned from Going Blind in Space” has been viewed more than 11 million times. He is frequently featured on national and global media outlets and is the co-creator and host of the internationally acclaimed BBC series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? as well as the co-host of National Geographic’s One Strange Rock, directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Currently an adviser to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, Hadfield was asked to advise and assist King Charles III in exploring sustainability in space in 2023. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo and chair of the board of the Open Lunar Foundation.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

Extreme Leadership

Commanding a spaceship takes superb leadership. The vehicle is complex, the team is international, the crew is on their own, and the stakes are at their highest — huge financial consequences and perpetual life or death situations.

Only one Canadian has ever held that command — Colonel Chris Hadfield. Through his 25 years spent in the Royal Canadian Air Force and 21 years with the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, he has developed and honed leadership theories and practices that have taken him to the very top.

A uniquely experienced leader, Hadfield will help your team lead more effectively. He combines fundamental leadership theories and original insights with examples from his own experiences as a US Navy top test pilot, NASA’s Director of Operations in Russia, NASA Astronaut Chief of Space Station Operations, and as a Commander of the International Space Station.
Preparing for the Unexpected: How to Manage Through Complexity and Change
Being a commander of a spaceship means facing the highest of stakes — human lives, irreplaceable and expensive equipment, and worldwide scrutiny.

Colonel Chris Hadfield commanded the International Space Station for six months off planet, and is experienced in managing people, complexity, and change under extreme circumstances. Surrounded by life-threatening risk, his daily routine was to prepare for and solve worst-case scenarios, from both a team and leadership perspective, while cultivating an optimistic and positive work environment.

Hadfield draws from his experiences and lessons learned during his 21 years in the astronaut corps to share the best strategies and tactics to help individuals, teams, and leaders prepare for and meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world.

Key topics include:
- Learning how to be comfortable with ambiguity and approach it with curiosity and possibility.
- How to best manage stress and lead under pressure.
- How to build resilient teams and encourage collaboration amongst diverse teams.
The Business of Space

In the past 10 years, there has been $264 billion invested into 1,750 different space companies and, as technology continues to improve, this is only going to accelerate. With governments enabling commercial space stations and tourist spaceflights, a global demand for Earth observation and high-speed telecommunication, and private companies landing on the Moon, space business opportunities have never been greater.

Colonel Chris Hadfield has not only piloted and commanded spaceships, he is also a leader and innovator in the business of space. He is a director of public and private companies; an advisor to SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Astrolab, and Planet; chair of the Open Lunar Foundation; and leader of the Creative Destruction Lab-Space international tech incubator.

In an age where the global space market is expected to reach $750 billion within the decade, Hadfield provides audiences with an insider’s look at this growing industry. He explores the factors that have contributed to its growth and provides an analytical look at the opportunities ahead as more and more businesses and nations come to rely on space assets and commerce.
Stories Behind "The Apollo Murders"

Colonel Chris Hadfield’s The Apollo Murders is a bestselling Cold War thriller set in 1973, that explores the dark heart of the space race. While it was Hadfield’s first fiction title, the inspiration behind the book is based on true stories that only an insider could ever know.

Hadfield takes audiences on a journey through the fascinating, technical, and thrilling stories behind the space race that he discovered while researching the fiction series. Hadfield combines these with his own personal stories of launching into space, living six months off-planet in the darkest dark, and hanging on to the outside of a spacecraft while orbiting the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour, to give audiences a perspective of what it’s really like to be an astronaut.

Starting from the beginning — when landing on the moon was a dream and an international competition — and ending in today’s landscape of international cooperation, Hadfield shows what is possible and what might have been.
STEM

Colonel Chris Hadfield has worked with countless students and teachers, from pre-school to post-doctoral, for decades. Speaking in schools and at education conferences throughout his 35-year-career as an engineer, pilot, and astronaut, his rare mixture of personal experience, memorable ideas, and a warm, fun, interactive style has influenced a generation. His extensive teachings from Earth orbit, recorded on-board the International Space Station, continue to be seen by millions via YouTube.

Hadfield strongly believes in the necessity to give every student the tools and the inspiration to succeed. His face and accomplishments are in Canadian science textbooks as both a role model and clear example of where STEM education can lead. Using real-world examples from his unique experiences, he enables audiences to see beyond their normal horizons, and helps give them the tools and ideas for personal growth and achievement in learning.
A Musical Evening with Chris Hadfield

Colonel Chris Hadfield shares a selection of stories, images, songs, and ideas in a musical presentation that delights audiences of all ages.

Performing songs like his evocative “Beyond the Terra”, which looks away from the land to the skies, Hadfield ties his presentation together with incredible tales from over the course of his career, including his experience as the ISS commander.

Suitable for audiences big, small, and in-between, Hadfield customizes his performance to his audience.