Michael Ciannilli
Experienced organizations do not fail because people stop caring. They fail when warning signs become routine, communication changes under pressure, and small deviations stop triggering concern. Audiences learn how disciplined leaders recognize and interrupt that drift before consequences escalate.
Failures rarely begin with a catastrophic decision.
More often, they begin quietly. A small deviation gets explained away. A warning sign becomes familiar. Experienced people grow comfortable with increasing risk.
Mike Ciannilli spent 30 years inside the U.S. space program, working in environments where those decisions carried real consequences.
He supported 58 Space Shuttle missions, served as a NASA Test Director for 21 launch countdowns, trained launch controllers, briefed astronauts, and helped recover Columbia and her crew following the 2003 disaster.
After Columbia, Mike created and led NASA’s Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, focused on preventing hard-earned lessons from fading into routine.
On stage, Mike takes audiences inside launch countdowns, mission operations, post-incident investigations, and the Test Director discipline developed in environments where failure was never theoretical. His presentations combine operational storytelling, humor, and the realities of decision-making under pressure to show audiences how experienced teams slowly convince themselves everything is still okay.
Until it is not.
Mike’s work extends beyond NASA into films, documentaries, museum installations, and public history projects involving Apollo, Challenger, Columbia, and human spaceflight history. He has advised productions and projects associated with Disney, Paramount, National Geographic, The History Channel, CNN, BBC, PBS, NBC News, and CBS News.
Mike is the recipient of NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award, presented by astronauts for outstanding contributions to flight safety and mission success.
Audiences hear from someone who has operated inside systems where failure carried irreversible consequences.
Failures rarely begin with a catastrophic decision.
More often, they begin quietly. A small deviation gets explained away. A warning sign becomes familiar. Experienced people grow comfortable with increasing risk.
Mike Ciannilli spent 30 years inside the U.S. space program, working in environments where those decisions carried real consequences.
He supported 58 Space Shuttle missions, served as a NASA Test Director for 21 launch countdowns, trained launch controllers, briefed astronauts, and helped recover Columbia and her crew following the 2003 disaster.
After Columbia, Mike created and led NASA’s Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, focused on preventing hard-earned lessons from fading into routine.
On stage, Mike takes audiences inside launch countdowns, mission operations, post-incident investigations, and the Test Director discipline developed in environments where failure was never theoretical. His presentations combine operational storytelling, humor, and the realities of decision-making under pressure to show audiences how experienced teams slowly convince themselves everything is still okay.
Until it is not.
Mike’s work extends beyond NASA into films, documentaries, museum installations, and public history projects involving Apollo, Challenger, Columbia, and human spaceflight history. He has advised productions and projects associated with Disney, Paramount, National Geographic, The History Channel, CNN, BBC, PBS, NBC News, and CBS News.
Mike is the recipient of NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award, presented by astronauts for outstanding contributions to flight safety and mission success.
Audiences hear from someone who has operated inside systems where failure carried irreversible consequences.
Preventing Failure: Lessons Learned To Lessons Applied
In complex organizations, failure rarely begins with a catastrophic decision.
More often, it develops gradually. A small deviation gets explained away. A warning sign becomes familiar. Communication changes under pressure. Decisions that once would have raised concern now seem reasonable because nothing bad has happened yet.
Mike Ciannilli spent 30 years inside the U.S. space program, working in environments where those decisions...
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NASA
On-Site
B.C., Associate Administrator, NASA
Mike Ciannilli has done an absolutely fantastic job sharing these lessons learned…
NASA
On-Site
M.J., Chair – International Training Control Board, NASA
Please accept my deep appreciation for the support you provided to our board when we saw you in January. The impact you had when speaking to our international partners was a significant reason we are moving towards startup of the USCV program. It was a moving and motivating experience for every one of us as we work to ensure the training of our crews is always focused on both mission success but crew safety as well. Thank you again so very much for permitting our board to spend valuable time with you. Your commitment to powerfully sharing the lessons from past failures set a tone that will last among our partners.
Boeing Defense, Space, and Security
On-Site
M.E.P.A.P.D.., Commercial Crew Program Safety, Reliability, and Quality Leader, Boeing Defense, Space, and Security
This letter is in appreciation of your enduring efforts for the advancement of safety and reliability in human spaceflight. I, along with several of my Boeing CCTS Program teammates, recently had the opportunity to tour hear you so eloquently speak. The experience had a profound impact on me and my colleagues. It was a sobering reminder of the importance of our Mission and the responsibility we have to our Nation and, in particular, to the astronauts who entrust their lives to us by flying the spaceships we design and built. Your efforts and continued support are greatly appreciated.
NASA
On-Site
J.K., Astronaut, NASA
Thank you so much for your time today! It was really great to see you. Our Deputy Center Director Marla was very impressed with your message, and we are looking forward to your speaking to the Glenn Research Center senior leadership team this fall.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
On-Site
J.B., Vice President, Lockheed Martin Corporation
I wanted to reach out and thank you again for the deeply moving speech you gave of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program (ACCLLP) for Lockheed Martin’s Senior Leadership Meeting. Our VP for Ethics and VP for Government Affairs want to connect to benefit our internal efforts to ensure our workforce maintains the highest level of ethics – with the relevant focus here on engineering safety.
Purdue University
On-Site
M.E.D.J.., Academic Director, Purdue University
Last year, you gave an amazing speech to the last group of students that really had a lasting impact on me, and I was wondering if we would be able to hear that speech again this year with other students. It would be an amazing opportunity, and I think beneficial for those of us who love safety as I do think it would be a great “lessons learned” opportunity.
Stopwatch Productions Ltd.
On-Site
M.C., Filmmaker and Producer / Director, Stopwatch Productions Ltd.
I have known Michael Ciannilli professionally since 2017 and cannot recommend him highly enough. He provided invaluable expertise and assistance during production of my feature documentary Apollo 1, consistently demonstrating immense knowledge in his field as well as impeccable integrity. He is a gifted communicator, calm under pressure and a genuine asset to any project he becomes involved in.
CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS
On-Site
J.S., Joseph Sembrat Senior Executive Vice President & Senior Conservator, CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS
I wanted to thank you also as you have been a great collaborator throughout this Forever Remembered national memorial project. We do appreciate your trust in our abilities as we do in yours, and we are honored to have been a part of this project with you. I just wish I had more clients like you.
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