Summary:

Frank Rubio was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reported for duty in August 2017 

and is currently training for a mission to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. The Florida native 

graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1998 and earned a Doctorate of Medicine from the Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences in 2010. Prior to attending medical school, he served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter 

pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including more than 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time during 

deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Dr. Rubio is a board-certified family physician and flight surgeon. At the 

time of his selection, he was serving in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, CO.

Personal Data:

Rubio was born in Los Angeles, California, but considers Miami, Florida, his hometown. He is married to Deborah 

Rubio, and the couple has four children. His mother, Myrna Argueta, lives in El Salvador.

Education:

Graduated from Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami, Florida. Earned a bachelor’s degree in International 

Relations from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Earned a Doctorate of Medicine from the 

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Family Medicine Residency at Martin Army 

Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Experience:

Rubio was a member of the West Point Parachute Team, the “Black Knights”. He is a Jumpmaster with over 650 freefall 

skydives, PRO-rating, and D-license holder. He served as a platoon leader in A Company, 2-82nd Assault Aviation 

(REDHAWKS), and as a company commander in A Company, 2-3

rd Aviation (STORM). Rubio also served as a clinic 

supervisor, an executive medicine provider, and a flight surgeon at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. At the time of his 

selection in June 2017, he was a battalion surgeon for the 3rd Battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the 

U.S. Army.

NASA Experience:

Rubio reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. He trained as a 

flight engineer and member of the Expedition 68 crew. Rubio, along with cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry 

Petelin of Roscosmos, launched Wednesday, Sept. 21, on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 

Kazakhstan to the International Space Station.

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

Francisco “Frank” Rubio

(M.D.) (Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army) NASA Astronaut 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

October 2022
Awards/Honors: 

Rubio has been awarded the Bronze Star (second award), Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Army 

Commendation Medal (fourth award), and Army Achievement Medal (fourth award). He is a graduate of the US Army 

Command and General Staff College, US Army Aviation Captain’s Career Course and Officer Basic Course, Joint 

Firepower Control Course, Cavalry Leader’s Course, and the US Army Flight Surgeon Course. He has earned the US 

Army Senior Aviator, Pathfinder, Air Assault, and Airborne badges.

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

Francisco “Frank” Rubio