9-year-old alien expert submits application for NASA job

If there's one population uniquely qualified to fight aliens, it's children under the age of 10 who love cable television.

After hearing that NASA was looking for its next "Planetary Protection Officer," 9-year-old Jack Davis decided to throw his name in the hat. Jack, a self-proclaimed "Guardian of the Galaxy," thought he had both the dedication and necessary qualifications to rise in the job.

"I have seen almost all the space and alien movies I can see," Jack explained. "I have also seen the show Marvel Agents of Shield and hope to see the movie Men in Black."

His inexperience, Jack argued, was an asset.

"I'm great at video games," he said. "I am young, so I can learn to think like an Alien."

Davis had education, dedication and the references of a lifetime:

"I may be nine but I think I would be fit for the job. One of the reasons is my sister says I'm an alien."

Sadly, the position of Planetary Protection Officer is a little less romantic than destroying aliens: the job is to protect the Earth from "microbial contamination from other planets."

NASA tried to be break the hard news the nicest way they could:

"It's about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It's also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System," James L. Green, director of NASA's planetary science division, replied.

NASA then encouraged him to apply in the future. I will also be extending my deadline if Davis is interested in applying to be my child.