Leading Beyond Limits with former NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins, first American Woman to Command a Space Shuttle Mission (Part 1)
Oct 09, 2025
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In honor of World Space Week (October 4 – October 10), we’re excited to bring you part 1 of this two-part interview series with Eileen Collins, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and first American woman commander of a space shuttle.
On this episode of Dominate Your Day, I had the incredible honor of sitting down with retired Colonel Eileen Collins — the first American woman to command a space shuttle mission and author of Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars.
Our conversation dove deep into what it really takes to lead with authenticity, push through barriers, and stay focused on your personal mission, even when the odds are stacked against you. Eileen shared how embracing her true self — not trying to fit a mold or mimic others — helped her stand out and succeed in one of the most high-pressure careers imaginable.
What stood out most was Eileen’s honest reflection on failure and how it became a powerful teacher throughout her journey. She introduced a simple but impactful four-step process she uses to deal with mistakes: acknowledge them, fix them, prevent them from happening again, and move on.
Eileen’s story is not just about breaking barriers; it’s about doing the internal work to stay grounded, resilient, and true to your purpose.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 3:00 — Dealing with Mistakes: A Four-Step Process
- Minute 8:00 — Breaking Barriers in Military Aviation
- Minute 14:00 — Navigating Challenges and Building Confidence
- Minute 18:00 — The Influence of Books and Early Aspirations
Links + Resources from This Episode:
- Visit www.eileencollins.com
- Get your copy of Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars
- Watch the trailer for Spacewoman, streaming in 2026
- Connect with Eileen Collins on LinkedIn
- Get your copy of Dana’s new book, The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within
- Learn more about The Strengths Journal
About Eileen Collins
Eileen M. Collins is a former astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. She retired from the Air Force in Jan 2005 and from NASA in May 2006 after a 28-year distinguished career. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first woman pilot and first woman commander of a space shuttle.
After graduation from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, she attended Corning Community College, earning an associate degree in mathematics/science in 1976. She then received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978, where she was an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate. She has earned a master of science degree in operations research from Stanford University in 1986, and a master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.
Collins graduated in 1979 from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where she was a T-38 instructor pilot until 1982. From 1983 to 1985, she was a C-141 aircraft commander and instructor pilot at Travis Air Force Base, California, and spent the following year as a student with the Air Force Institute of Technology. From 1986 to 1989, Collins was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, where she was an assistant professor in mathematics and a T-41 instructor pilot.
Collins graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1990. She was selected by NASA and became an astronaut in July 1991. After tours at Kennedy Space Center (shuttle launch and landing) and Johnson Space Center (shuttle engineer and capsule communicator), she flew the space shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard Discovery. This mission was the first space shuttle to rendezvous with the Russian Space Station MIR. She was also the pilot for Atlantis in 1997, where her crew docked with MIR. Collins became the first woman commander of a U.S. spacecraft with shuttle mission Columbia in 1999, the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her final space flight was as commander of Discovery in 2005, the “Return to Flight Mission” after the tragic loss of Columbia. She has logged more than 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft and more than 872 hours in space as a veteran of four space flights.
Her book, “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars” (Skyhorse, 2021) with Jonathan Ward, was recently made into a film documentary: “Spacewoman”, to be streaming in late 2025 or early 2026.
Collins currently serves on several boards and advisory panels, is a professional speaker and an aerospace consultant. She is married with two children.
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