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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

October 2020

Douglas G. Hurley

(Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Douglas G. Hurley was selected as an astronaut in 2000. A veteran of three spaceflights, he was the pilot on STS‐127 and 

STS‐135 and Spacecraft Commander on the first crewed test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, the Demo-2 Mission, 

during which he also served as a Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 63. Hurley holds a 

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tulane University. Before joining NASA, he was a fighter pilot and test pilot 

in the U.S. Marine Corps. He has spent a total of 93 days in space. 

Personal Data:

Born on October 21, 1966, in Endicott, New York, but considers Apalachin, New York, his hometown. He is married with 

one child. 

Education:

Graduated from Owego Free Academy, in Owego, New York, 1984. Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Tulane 

University, Louisiana, 1988.

Experience:

Hurley received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps from the Naval Reserve 

Officer Training Corps at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1988. After graduation, he attended The Basic 

School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, and later, the Infantry Officers Course. Following Aviation Indoctrination in Pensacola, 

Florida, he entered flight training in Texas in 1989 and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1991. He then reported 

to Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 101 at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California, for initial F/A-18 

training. Upon completion of training, he was assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter/Attack Squadron 225, where he 

made three overseas deployments to the Western Pacific. While assigned to VMFA (AW)-225, he attended the United 

States Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, the Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC) and the 

Aviation Safety Officers Course at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California. Over his 4 1/2 years with the 

“Vikings,” he served as the Aviation Safety Officer and the Pilot Training Officer. Hurley was then selected to attend the 

United States Naval Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, and began the course in January 

1997. After graduation in December 1997, he was assigned to the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron (VX-23) as an 

F/A-18 Project Officer and Test Pilot. At “Strike,” he participated in a variety of flight testing, including flying qualities, 

ordnance separation and systems testing and became the first Marine pilot to fly the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. 

He was serving as the Operations Officer when selected for the astronaut program. Twelve years into his NASA career, 

Hurley retired from the United States Marine Corps after proudly serving more than 24 years.

Hurley has logged over 5,500 hours in more than 25 aircraft.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Douglas G. Hurley

NASA Experience:

Selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000, Hurley reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two 

years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office, which have included Kennedy 

Operations Support as a “Cape Crusader,” where he was the lead Astronaut Support Personnel (ASP) for shuttle missions 

STS‐107 and STS‐121. He worked Shuttle Landing and Rollout, served on the Columbia Reconstruction Team at Kennedy 

Space Center and served in the Exploration branch in support of the selection of the Orion Multi‐Purpose Crew Vehicle 

(MPCV). He also served as the NASA Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star 

City, Russia. In July 2009, Colonel Hurley completed his first spaceflight as pilot on STS‐127, International Space Station 

Assembly Mission 2J/A. Following that mission, Hurley served as the Astronaut Office Safety Chief. In July 2011, he 

completed his second spaceflight as pilot on STS‐135, International Space Station Mission ULF7. Following that flight, he 

served as the Assistant Director, New Programs, for the Flight Crew Operations Directorate (FCOD) at Johnson Space 

Center, and following the merger of Flight Operations and Mission Operations in August 2014, he became the Assistant 

Director for the Commercial Crew Program for the newly formed Flight Operations Directorate (FOD). In July 2015, he 

was selected along with three other astronauts to the Commercial Crew Cadre and subsequently in July 2018, was 

chosen to command the first crewed test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.

Spaceflight Experience:

STS-127, International Space Station Assembly Mission 2J/A, Endeavour (July 15 to July 31, 2009). Hurley delivered the 

Japanese-built Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section (ELM-ES) to the space 

station. The crew completed the construction of the KIBO Japanese Experiment Module, installed scientific experiments 

on its Exposed Facility and delivered critical spare parts and replacement batteries to the orbital complex in addition to 

transferring 24,638 pounds of hardware and 1,225 pounds of water to the station. While the shuttle was docked, the 

mission featured a record 13 astronauts working aboard the space station, representing all five International Partners: 

NASA, the Russian Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese 

Space Agency (JAXA). The 16-day mission included five spacewalks and was accomplished in 248 orbits of the Earth, 

traveling 6,547,853 miles in 15 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes and 58 seconds.

STS-135/ULF7 (July 8 to July 21, 2011). The Space Shuttle Atlantis carried the “Raffaello” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module 

(MPLM) to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station. The mission also flew a system 

to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft and returned a failed ammonia pump module to 

help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems. STS-135 was the 

33rd flight of Atlantis, the 37th shuttle mission to the space station and the 135th and final mission of NASA’s Space 

Shuttle Program. The mission, which included one spacewalk by Expedition 28’s Mike Fossum and Ron Garan, was 

accomplished in 200 orbits of the Earth, traveling 5,284,862 miles in 12 days, 18 hours, 27 minutes and 56 seconds.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 and Expedition 63 (May 30 to Aug. 2, 2020) Hurley served as Spacecraft Commander on 

the first crewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, the Demo-2 mission, launching May 30. The flight marked the return 

of crewed launches to American soil following the space shuttle program retirement, and was the crewed test flight of 

the Crew Dragon before the spacecraft could be certified for regular flights carrying astronauts to and from the space 

station. The flight marked the fifth time in U.S. history that NASA astronauts have flow on a new spacecraft. 

Upon arrival at the International Space Station on May 31, Hurley became a Flight Engineer for Expedition 63. During his 

62 days at the space station, Hurley contributed to more than 110 hours of time to supporting the orbiting laboratory’s 

investigations and supported four spacewalks as the robotics operator and intravehicular officer. Following an 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Douglas G. Hurley

undocking from the space station on Aug. 1, Hurley and crewmate Robert Behnken landed off the coast of Pensacola, 

Florida, on August 2, 2020, having spent 64 days in space.

Awards/Honors:

Magna Cum Laude with Honors, Tulane University; Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School; 

Distinguished Graduate, Tulane University NROTC; Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Navy Pilot Training. Stephen A. 

Hazelrigg Memorial Award for best Test Pilot/Engineer Team, Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron. Awarded the Legion 

of Merit, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, 

two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and various other service awards. In April, 2015, he received the 

2014 Tulane University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Pronunciation:

DUG-luss HER-lee