Feature photo courtesy of NASA
Story by Victoria Stone
“Reach for the stars” is a common motivational push and a bit of a cliche. But for MTSU songwriting professor Jamie Teachenor, the stars are well within his reach.
Some know Teachenor from his classes in MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment, but that’s just one aspect of his daily life.
On Sept. 28, Col. Nick Hague will take off as the first Guardian (member of the Space Force) sent to space. This mission, known as SpaceX Crew-9, will be overseen by NASA with the protection of the Space Force — the recently formed U.S. military branch. Alongside Space Force flags and patches, Hague will be bringing a special piece of sheet music with Teachenor’s name listed as composer. While Teachenor remains earthbound, this copy of his work will travel beyond. When it returns, Teachenor will have a priceless intergalactic souvenir.
”The thing that makes me the most proud about the Space Force song,” Teachenor said, “is it’s no longer my song…. It really is special to me that I get to know that it’s about a lot more than myself. It’s about a lot more than any individual thing; it just shows what great things we can do.”
Teachenor’s path to writing an official military branch theme song is another interesting journey. At 35 years old Teachenor enlisted in the Air Force after reading an ad on Craigslist seeking a vocalist to join the Air Force Academy Band’s Wild Blue Country ensemble. He served four years stationed in Colorado Springs, where he spent time working with future Guardians.
”I was always a patriot,” Teachenor said. “I got to be around a lot of people that did amazing, cool things and I was just thankful to be around for the ride to see what they did day in and day out for our country.”
Through his connections to future Guardians in the Space Force, Teachenor was given the opportunity to compose the official U.S. Space Force song. “Semper, Supra,” Latin for “Always, Above” debuted in 2022 at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Teachenor worked for years writing the composition. “Semper, Supra” is also the Space Force’s motto.
Crew-9 is a historic mission for Space Force and NASA, but also for the astronauts who will fill two empty seats on the return trip.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been stranded at the International Space Station since June, when they arrived for what was supposed to be an 8 day mission. Although several members of their crew have returned home, Wilmore and Williams remain behind. The pair will soon cast their encrypted absentee ballots from space, a procedure NASA has assisted with since 1974.
Crew 9 is expected to return to earth in March of 2025.
Although he has now left behind a patriotic legacy, Teachenor still loves his day job.
”There’s something really special about MTSU,” Teachenor said. “There’s nothing like it. The whole True Blue Pledge that everyone takes, it really has meaning. I love that there’s a drive inside the students who are pursuing their career. It’s an honor to be around them.”
Victoria Stone is a Reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
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