http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

January 2020

Eric A. Boe

(Colonel, USAF, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Eric A. Boe was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2000. The veteran of two spaceflights was born in Miami, Florida but 

grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1987, Boe was commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Before his military 

retirement in 2012, he logged more than 6000 flight hours in over 50 aircraft. Boe served as pilot for STS-126 

Endeavour, a mission that expanded the living quarters of the International Space Station to eventually house six crew 

members by delivering a new bathroom, kitchen, two sleeping quarters, an exercise machine, and a water recycling 

system. He also served as pilot for STS-133 Discovery. This mission delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module 

(PMM) and the fourth Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) to the International Space Station.

Boe is currently the assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. In 

this role, he works closely with NASA’s commercial partners, Boeing and SpaceX, and the crews assigned to fly with 

those companies, to develop and test the new spacecraft they are building to transport astronauts to and from the 

International Space Station.

In 2015, Boe was one of four astronauts assigned to NASA’s “Commercial Crew Cadre,” which worked on both the 

Boeing CST-100 Starliner and the SpaceX Crew Dragon. He was assigned to fly on the first crewed Starliner mission in 

2018, but was reassigned for medical reasons.

Personal Data:

Born October 1, 1964, in Miami, Florida. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Married to the former Kristen Newman of 

Thousand Oaks, California. They have two children. He enjoys outdoor sports, reading, scuba diving, and skiing.

Education:

Graduated from Henderson High School, Chamblee, Georgia, 1983. Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering, 

United States Air Force Academy, 1987. Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 

1997.

Experience:

Boe was commissioned from the Air Force Academy in 1987. He completed Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at 

Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, in 1988. He was then assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Clark Air 

Base, Philippines as a combat ready pilot in the F-4E. In 1991, he served as a T-38 instructor pilot in the 50th Flying 

Training Squadron, and as an AT-38B instructor pilot in the 49th Fighter Squadron at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. In 

1994, he was assigned to the 60th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida serving as an F-15C flight commander. He flew 

55 combat missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1997, he attended the USAF Test Pilot School 

at Edwards AFB, California. After graduation, he was assigned as the Director of Test, Air-to-Air Missile Test Division, 

46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida where he served as a test pilot flying all models of the F-15 and the UH-1N. Boe 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Eric A. Boe

retired from the Air Force in February 2012. He has logged more than 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different 

aircraft.

NASA Experience:

Selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000, Boe reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 2000. Following the 

completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Advanced 

Vehicles Branch, Station Operations Branch, and Space Shuttle Branch. From October 2005 to October 2006, he served 

as NASA Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia. In the Exploration Branch, 

he worked on the new Crew Launch Vehicle and Crew Exploration Vehicle. From August 2011 to March 2015, he served 

as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. A veteran of two spaceflights, Boe served as pilot for both STS-126 and STS133, with more than 28 days in space.

Boe is currently the assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-126 Endeavour (November 14-30, 2008) launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to 

land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Highlights of the almost 16-day mission included expanding the living 

quarters of the space station to eventually house six-member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchen, two sleeping 

quarters, an exercise machine, and a water recycling system, and included a total of four spacewalks. STS-126 also 

delivered a new resident to the station, replacing Greg Chamitoff with Sandy Magnus. STS-126 returned to Earth after 

completing 251 orbits, traveling 6 million miles. 

STS-133 (February 24 - March 9, 2011) was the 39th and final mission for Space Shuttle Discovery. During the almost 13-

day flight, the Discovery crew delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) and the fourth Express Logistics 

Carrier (ELC) to the station. The mission’s two space walks assisted in outfitting the truss of the station and completed a 

variety of other tasks designed to upgrade station systems. The mission was accomplished in 202 Earth orbits, traveling 

5.3 million miles.

Awards/Honors:

Distinguished Graduate with honors from the United States Air Force Academy, 1987. Awarded the Fannie and John 

Hertz Foundation Fellowship for graduate studies, 1987. Military decorations include the Defense Superior Service 

Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal (2), Aerial 

Achievement Medal (5), the Commendation Medal (3), Achievement Medal, Outstanding Unit Award (3), Combat 

Readiness Medal, and various other service awards.

Organizations:

Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and Civil Air Patrol.

Pronunciation:

AIR-rick BO