http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeffrey-n-williams http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

July 2022

Jeffrey N. Williams

(Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Completing four trips to the International Space Station (ISS) spanning 16 years, Jeffrey N. Williams (Colonel, U.S. Army, 

Ret.) most recently flew as Flight Engineer on Expedition 47 and Commanded Expedition 48 in 2016 in which he 

accumulated a record-breaking total duration of 534 days in space. During earlier flights, the Wisconsin native served as

Flight Engineer and lead spacewalker for STS-101 in 2000, Flight Engineer for Expedition 13 in 2006 and Expedition 21 in 

2009, and Commander for Expedition 22 in 2009-2010. Commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1980 and selected as an 

astronaut in 1996, Williams continues to serve as an Assistant Director in Johnson’s Space Center’s (JSC) Flight 

Operations Directorate. 

Personal Data:

Born January 18, 1958, in Superior, Wisconsin, but considers Winter, Wisconsin to be his hometown. Married to the 

former Anna-Marie Moore of Newburgh, New York. They have two adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and four

grandchildren. Enjoys running, fishing, camping, skiing, scuba diving and woodworking. Williams’ parents, Lloyd D. and 

Eunice A. Williams, are deceased.

Education:

Williams graduated from Winter High School, Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 

Applied Science and Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) in 1980, a Master of Science Degree in 

Aeronautical Engineering and the Degree of Aeronautical Engineer from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, both in 

1987, a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 1996, an 

honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Johnson and Wales University in 2007, an honorary Doctorate of 

Science from Grove City College in 2018, an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Messina (Italy) in 

2019, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from The Master’s Seminary in 2021.

Military Experience:

As a cadet at USMA, Williams competed on the West Point sport parachute team and also held ratings of sport 

parachute jumpmaster and instructor. He received his commission as a second lieutenant May 1980 and was designated 

an Army aviator in September 1981. Williams completed a three-year assignment in West Germany where he served in 

the 3rd Armored Division’s 503rd Aviation Battalion. Following his return to the United States, Williams completed a 

graduate program in Aeronautical Engineering and, in 1987, was selected for an Army assignment at NASA JSC, where he 

served in various capacities supporting the Space Shuttle Program. In 1992, Williams attended the Naval Test Pilot 

School graduating first in his class in 1993, and subsequently served as an experimental test pilot and the Flight Test 

Division Chief in the Army’s Airworthiness Qualification Test Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Williams 

retired from active duty in 2007 after more than 27 years of military service. Williams has logged approximately 3,100 

hours in more than 50 different aircraft.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeffrey-n-williams http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Jeffrey N. Williams

NASA Experience:

Williams was selected for the NASA Astronaut Class of 1996. In addition to his space flights, he has performed various 

technical duties in both the space shuttle and International Space Station Programs. He has served in the Extravehicular 

Activity (EVA), Space Station, and Soyuz Branches of the Astronaut Office, led the development of a space shuttle cockpit 

upgrade, and completed temporary assignments at Marshall Space Flight Center supporting the test and evaluation of 

the ISS U.S. Laboratory Module and at NASA Headquarters in support of legislative affairs. In July 2002, Williams 

commanded a nine-day coral reef expedition operating from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 

Aquarius undersea habitat off the coast of Florida. Williams has also served on the ISS backup flight crews for 

Expeditions 12, 19, 20, as well as the backup for the one-year flight spanning Expeditions 43 through 46. Williams has 

logged more than 534 days in space, including nearly 32 hours in five spacewalks. 

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-101 (May 19 through May 29, 2000). Williams flew aboard Atlantis and served as the Flight Engineer and lead 

spacewalker. STS-101 was the third shuttle mission devoted to space station construction. Objectives for the 10-day 

flight included transporting and installing over 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies, and included Williams’ first 

spacewalk, lasting nearly 7 hours. 

Expedition 13 (March 29 through September 28, 2006). Williams served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 13, launching 

on March 29 on the Russian Soyuz TMA-8 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and docking with the station on March 31. During 

the six-month tour of duty aboard the International Space Station, Williams performed two successful spacewalks (one 

Russian and one American) logging an additional 12 hours and 25 minutes, and also saw the arrival of two space shuttle 

missions, the resumption of construction of the orbiting laboratory, and the restoration of a three-person expedition 

crew. The Expedition 13 mission concluded on September 28 with a safe landing in central Kazakhstan.

Expedition 21/22 (September 30, 2009 through March 18, 2010). On his third space flight, Williams served as a Flight 

Engineer on Expedition 21 and commanded Expedition 22, launching from Baikonur on Soyuz TMA-16 on September 30 

and docking on October 2, 2009. During his second 6-month stay onboard the International Space Station, Williams 

again saw the arrival of two space shuttle missions as well as the integration of a Russian Mini-Research Module, the 

U.S. Tranquility Module, and the Cupola, completing the construction of the ISS. His third flight concluded on March 18, 

2010, with the Soyuz landing in Kazakhstan. 

Expedition 47/48 (March 18, 2016 to September 7, 2016). On his final space flight, Williams launched on Soyuz TMA20M from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 18, 2016 and served as Flight Engineer on Expedition 47

and Commander on Expedition 48. Williams returned to Earth September 6, 2016 after his U.S. record-breaking mission 

aboard the ISS. Having completed his fourth mission, Williams has spent 534 days in space, at the time making him first 

on the all-time NASA astronaut list. 

Williams’ spaceflights spanned more than 16 years of development, construction and ongoing operation of the ISS, and 

included time in space with 56 different individuals from eight different countries.

Awards/Honors:

Graduated first in U.S. Naval Test Pilot School class 103 in 1993; Admiral William Adger Moffett Award for Excellence in 

Aeronautical Engineering in 1988, Naval Postgraduate School; Daedalian Foundation Fellowship Award for Graduate 

Study in Aeronautics in 1985. Awarded two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legions of Merit, two Meritorious 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeffrey-n-williams http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Jeffrey N. Williams

Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, NASA Distinguished Service and 

Exceptional Service Medals, and various other service awards along with Master Army Aviator, Senior Space and 

Parachutist badges. Army Aviation Order of Saint Michael: Bronze (2000), Silver (2006), Gold (2016), Army Aviation Hall 

of Fame (2019).

Organizations: 

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Association of Space Explorers, Army Aviation Association of America, USMA 

Association of Graduates, Officer Christian Fellowship.

Pronunciation: 

JEFF-ree WILL-yums