Leland D. Melvin
| Leland Devon Melvin | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| NASA Astronaut | |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired |
| Born |
February 15, 1964 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S. |
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Other occupation
|
Engineer |
|
Time in space
|
23d 13h 28 m |
| Selection | 1998 NASA Group |
| Missions | STS-122, STS-129 |
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Mission insignia
|
 
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Leland Devon Melvin (born February 15, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129. Melvin was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010.
Melvin attended Heritage High School and then went on to the University of Richmond on a football scholarship, where he received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. In 1991 he received a Master of Science degree in Materials Science Engineering from the University of Virginia. His parents, Deems and Grace Melvin, reside in Lynchburg, Virginia. His recreational interests include photography, piano, reading, music, cycling, tennis, and snowboarding. Melvin appeared as an elimination challenge guest judge in the 12th episode of Top Chef (season 7), with his dogs in the seventh season of The Dog Whisperer., and was the host of Child Genius (season 1 and 2). He is the president of the Spaceship Earth Grants, a public benefit corporation whose mission is to make space more accessible through human spaceflight and parabolic flight awards to individual applicants.
Melvin was a wide receiver on the University of Richmond football team from 1982–85. Melvin is first on the University of Richmond's career lists with 198 receptions for 2,669 yards (2,441 m), and fourth on Richmond's career touchdown receptions list with 16. He was an AP honorable mention All-America selection in 1984 and 1985 and second team Apple Academic All-America in 1985. A team captain during his senior season, Melvin had his best year in 1985, with 65 catches for 956 yards (874 m) and eight TDs. His top game was in 1984 against James Madison University, when he had 10 catches for 208 yards (190 m) and one touchdown. Melvin caught at least one pass in every game he played as a Richmond Spider (39). He was in the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 1996–97 and selected for the All-UR Stadium Team in 2009, which commemorates the greatest Spiders to have played at the stadium in its 81-year history.
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