Josh Dobbs finds pieces of himself at the opposite end of special interests. Along with being an NFL quarterback for the New England Patriots he carries a deep interest in space, and at its intersection, you can find his passion for teamwork.
Dobbs earned his degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Tennessee, where he also played quarterback for four seasons. For many, football and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) couldn't be any more different. For Dobbs, his experience in both awarded him a different perspective.
His passion for space and aviation was born from watching people come together to accomplish big things. Now, after years of being part of football teams, he knows the same values apply to both fields.
"Everyone in the locker room has a different background, different personality, different makeup. We've all gotten here based on our skills of playing ball and now we're coming together to win football games," said Dobbs. "It's very cool to see how people come together and can accomplish things that have never been done before."
With the ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation, he strives to give the youth of Tennessee the same perspective.
"I've become an advocate for it," said Dobbs. "When you're younger, being around different kids that have different backgrounds, different thought processes, and different upbringings allows you to be successful in whatever field you want to when you grow up," said Dobbs.
ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation will do exactly that. Students from the University of Tennessee will witness what it takes to execute a space launch firsthand when NASA launches Artemis II in early 2026.
While NASA's mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to earth, Dobbs' mission will remain the same: Provide youth across the country with experiences that can inspire them to grow, change and learn how to make an impact on the world.
