Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi bids goodbye with a kiss and some tears to hundreds of JPL employees gathered for his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi bids goodbye with a kiss and some tears to hundreds of JPL employees gathered for his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi speaks to hundreds of JPL employees gathered for his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi poses with a small Mars rover replica at his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

Jet Propulsion Laboratory business administrator for division 39 Priscilla Lunn, right, takes a selfie with JPL director Charles Elachi after his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

La Cañada Flintridge mayor Jonathan C. Curtis speaks at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi’s retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Photo Gallery: JPL director Charles Elachi retires after 15 years of leading space explorations

A large crowd gathered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for director Charles Elachi’s retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)