JOE FRANK EDWARDS, JR., (COMMANDER, USN, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born February 3, 1958, in Richmond, Virginia. Considers 

Lineville, Alabama, and Roanoke, Alabama, to be his hometowns. Married to the 

former Janet Leigh Ragan of Leonardtown, Maryland. He enjoys basketball, running, 

football and softball. His parents, Joe Frank and Jane McMurray Edwards, reside in 

Roanoke, Alabama.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Lineville High School, Lineville, Alabama, in 1976. 

Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval 

Academy, 1980. Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from University of 

Tennessee, Knoxville, 1994.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Association of Naval 

Aviation, U.S. Naval Institute.

SPECIAL HONORS: Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Superior Service Medal, Air Medal, Defense Meritorious Service 

Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal. Daedalian Superior Airmanship Award 1992, Fighter Squadron 

143 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 1984, 1985, Fighter Squadron 142 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 1990, 1991, 1992. Carrier Airwing 

Seven Pilot of the Year, 1985, 1990, 1991. 

EXPERIENCE: Designated a Naval Aviator in February 1982. Assigned to Fighter Squadron 143 in 1983 after completion of 

F-14 Tomcat training. Flew fighter escort and reconnaissance combat missions over Lebanon in 1983 and graduated from U.S. 

Navy Fighter Weapons School in 1984. Graduated from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1986 and subsequently worked as 

project flight test officer and pilot for F-14A(PLUS) and F-14D Full Scale Development. Flew the first Navy flight of the F-14D 

and a high angle of attack/departure from controlled flight test program for the F-14 airframe/F110 engine integration. Served as 

Operations and Maintenance Officer in Fighter Squadron 142 1989-1992. Worked as Operations Officer in the Operations 

Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington D.C. from 1992-1994. He has flown 4000 hours in over 25 different aircraft 

and logged over 650 carrier-arrested landings. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994, Edwards reported to the Johnson Space Center 

in March 1995. He has worked technical issues for the Space Shuttle and Space Station in the Safety Department of the 

Astronaut Office. He also served as Technical Assistant to the Director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate, NASA Director of 

Operations (DOR), Russia, and Astronaut CAPCOM representative in Mission Control for Shuttle ascent and entry. Edwards 

retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy on April 30, 2000. He is currently involved with several companies around the country in 

the areas of technology, aviation, and business development

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-89 (January 22-31, 1998) was the eighth Shuttle-Mir docking mission during which the

crew transferred more than 9,000 pounds of scientific equipment, logistical hardware and water from Space Shuttle Endeavour to 

Mir. In the fifth and last exchange of a U.S. astronaut, STS-89 delivered Andy Thomas to Mir and returned with David Wolf. 

Mission duration was 8 days, 19 hours and 47 seconds, traveling 3.6 million miles in 138 orbits of the Earth. 

MAY 2002

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought from the above named individual.

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058