Born and raised in Kenya, Dr Immanuel Gitamo is an epitome of success to enthusiasts of the 'American Dream'.
He is currently serving as an Air Defense Battle Management System Operator assigned to 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington D.C as reported in the US Army Journal on February 18.
In the course of his illustrious career, as space enthusiast, Dr. Gitamo has managed to work with the second richest man in the world, Elon Musk on Space X.
With a few months left on his army career, he is looking to fully venture into space studies.
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File image of Dr. Immanuel Gitamo (3rd left) with members of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington D.C . |Photo| Courtesy|
In 2019, he attained a PhD in astrophysics and is currently studying for another PhD in atomic physics.
Dr Gitamo became an instant sensation in the US when his story was published on the US Army Journal last month. His story has since inspired Kenyans living in the US, with some likening his success to that of Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o.
Early Life
Despite his rise to the top, his life growing up was no ride in the park. He had to overcome a myriad of obstacles to become the man he is today.
At a young age, Dr Gitamo and his brother were abandoned by their parents by the road side.
“Me and my brother were just found. Our biological parents just left us on the road. You know what I mean, they just left us. Therefore, I don’t know my real father and mother," Dr Gitamo told the US Army Journal.
He and his brother were later on adopted by a couple who found them in the street. They however struggled to put them through school and the education he got was at the mercy of his teachers.
Dr Gitamo went to school barefoot and only wore his first pair of shoes when he was fourteen years old.
His love for astrophysics and space started at a young age and in 2006, when he was 19 years old, he immigrated to the US to pursue his dream.
File image of Dr. Immanuel Gitamo. |Photo| Courtesy|
Academic qualifications and achievements
He enrolled at the Carlifornia Institute of Technology and through hard work, he graduated with a degree in astronautics and aeronautics engineering, then later with a Masters in Nuclear physics.
For his PhD, Dr Gitamo was required to write a dissertation and he chose to focus on the invention of a formula for an emerging method of getting people into outer space.
“My dissertation was about electric propulsion. That’s why I joined the Army. I was doing my dissertation for my PhD, and I needed to be able to defend it. I was creating an electric engine propulsion for spacecraft. In order to get to know how electric propellant works, I needed to know how solid propellant works. That's what the Army uses to eject missiles, so I joined the Army,” Dr Gitamo stated.
Work experience
His first duty station was as a member of Echo Battery, 6-52 Air and Missile Defense Battalion in the Republic of Korea, where he got the opportunity to learn whatever he needed for his dissertation.
Dr Gitamo revealed that his interaction with civilian fire support officers attached to the unit helped him learn about solid propellants. It helped him defend his dissertation and eventually earn him his PhD.
His second assignment was as a member of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s Air Defense and Air Management Cell at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He currently works there.
The ADAM Cell manages air space while providing air defense tactics and capabilities to the brigade.
Dr Gitamo's first-line supervisor and ADAM Cell officer, Captain Stephen Vories describes him as an intelligent individual.
“Looking at this guy, he’s very unassuming, but when you actually get down and talk to him, you realize his brain is bigger than the room.
"So, it’s always an enlightening experience to just try and open that guy’s head, but be prepared because you’re probably gonna get beaten around by his intelligence," Capt. Vories was quoted as saying, adding that he tries to find tasks that can utilise Dr Gitamo's brilliance.
His intelligence can be depicted from his contribution and writings regarding propulsion, classical and quantum-mechanical turbulence, and leadership.
Space Interest
“From Earth if you wanted to travel to Mars, it would take two and a half years, but if you use electric propulsion it will take 28 days,” Dr Gitamo says.
His preferred method, electric propulsion, is not the one currently used, but Dr Gitamo believes in its cost efficiency as well as its positive impact on the environment.
He reiterates on the need to make space travel more accessible.
“Space is for the benefit of every common man. So many things we do now involve space. We use satellites for communication and to monitor and track things, but have we really looked at it?
"What are all the benefits we can get from space? Everything I do when it comes to electric propulsion, I am thinking about that person down there," Dr Gitamo stated.
Working for Elon Musk
With his academic qualifications, Dr Gitamo is a depth with research, design, science and the technology related to aircraft construction and testing.
"This is how I came to be part of the SpaceX project Falcon 9 which has been launched 107 times with 67 landing and 50 times having reflown rockets. 2027 SpaceX is a complete mission which we are still planning. It is meant to go to Mars," Dr Gitamo stated.
It is through working on the project that he got to meet Elon Musk, the brains behind Space X.
File image of SpaceX founder Elon Musk. |Photo| Courtesy|
Giving back to the Community
Through his life experiences, he urges young Africans to note that realising their dreams is down to hard work and focus.
"Right now I'm mentoring young Kenyans in Seattle who are about to chose their careers and I've seen frustrations in their eyes because they are confused about what career path they should follow. It's important that we make time to walk them through their process," Dr Gitamo stated.
"in Kenya, I'm engaged in donating whatever small things I have to schools and churches. I am also helping several students in Kenya with school fees but I have big plans coming up soon on how I will be giving back to the community," he added.
File image of Dr. Immanuel Gitamo. |Photo| Courtesy|
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