Ronald J. Garan Jr. | |
---|---|
NASA Astronaut | |
Nationality | American |
Status | Retired |
Born |
Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
October 30, 1961
Other occupation
|
Fighter pilot Chief pilot at World View Enterprises |
SUNY College at Oneonta, B.S. 1982 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, M.A.S. 1994 University of Florida, M.S. 1996 |
|
Rank | Colonel, USAF |
Time in space
|
177 days, 23 hours, 54 minutes |
Selection | 2000 NASA Group |
Total EVAs
|
4 |
Total EVA time
|
27h 3m |
Missions | STS-124, Soyuz TMA-21 (Expedition 27/28) |
Mission insignia
|
Ronald John Garan Jr. (born October 30, 1961) is a NASA astronaut. After graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1982, he joined the Air Force, becoming a Second Lieutenant in 1984. He became an F-16 pilot, and flew combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Before becoming an astronaut he was the Operations Officer of the 40th Flight Test Squadron (FTS). He first flew in space as a Mission Specialist on the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He returned to ISS on April 4, 2011 for a six-month stay as a member of Expedition 27.
Born on October 30, 1961 in Yonkers, NY, Ron Garan is of Russian descent. He is married to the former Carmel Courtney of Brooklyn, NY, and Scranton, PA. They have three sons. His father, Ronald Garan Sr., resides in Yonkers, NY. His mother, Linda Lichtblau, resides in Port St. Lucie, FL with her husband, Peter Lichtblau. His recreational interests include running, football, coaching and teaching Sunday School classes to children. Garan is a devout Roman Catholic.