Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Pacific, 1984; Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara, 1986; at the time of selection Chief, Materials and Processes Branch, Johnson Space Center; unsuccessful application for NASA astronaut groups 17 and 18; Hernández left NASA in January 2011 and start working for MEI Technologies; Application for the U.S. House of Representatives for the Democratic Party 2012, but lost to the incumbent, Congressman Jeff Denham, in the General Election for California's new 10th District. Hernández finished in the polls with 46% of the vote..