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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

August 2023

Anne C. McClain

(Colonel, U.S. Army) NASA Astronaut

Summary:

Anne C. McClain was selected by NASA in 2013. She is a colonel in the U.S. Army. The Spokane, Washington native 

earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical/aeronautical engineering from West Point. A 2002 Marshall Scholar, McClain 

earned a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Bath in Bath, England and a Master of 

Science in international relations from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England. She also received a Master of Science 

in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. McClain is a Master Army Aviator with more than 2,000 flight hours 

in 20 different aircraft. She is an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot and instructor pilot, and a rated pilot in the C-12 Huron 

(King Air), UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota. McClain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International 

Space Station for Expedition 58 and 59.

Personal Data:

Born and raised in Spokane, Washington. McClain’s mother and stepfather are Charlotte and Don Lamp and stepmother 

is Mari Ann McClain, father is the late James McClain, all of Spokane, WA.

Education:

She graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington, in 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Science in 

mechanical/aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002. A 2002 Marshall Scholar, 

earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Bath in Bath, England in 2004. She 

earned a Master of Science in international relations from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England in 2005. Most 

recently, McClain earned a Master of Science in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2023.

Experience:

McClain was commissioned as an Army officer in 2002 and started graduate school. Her studies at the University of Bath 

focused on the unsteady aerodynamics and flow visualization of free-to-roll nonslender delta wings and her research 

was later published through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). She also researched the 

security burden in developing countries at nearby University of Bristol. Following graduate school, McClain earned her 

wings as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout/attack helicopter pilot. She began her operational flying career with 2nd 

Battalion, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii as an Air Traffic Control Platoon Leader, Aviation 

Intermediate Maintenance Platoon Leader, then later Detachment Commander. She served 15 months in Operation 

Iraqi Freedom, flying more than 800 combat hours on 216 combat missions as pilot-in-command and Air Mission 

Commander. In 2009, she attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course and was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th 

Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker as the battalion operations officer and OH-58D instructor. In May 2010, she was 

appointed Commander of C Troop, 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, responsible for the Army’s initial entry 

training, instructor pilot training, and maintenance test pilot training in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. She completed 

Command and General Staff College and the C-12 fixed wing multiengine qualification courses in 2011 and 2012. She 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Anne C. McClain

then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, graduating with Class 143 in June 2013 at the same time she was selected 

as a NASA astronaut.

Colonel McClain is a Master Army Aviator and Experimental Test Pilot who has logged more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 

different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. She is a rated pilot and instructor pilot in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and a rated 

pilot in the C-12 Huron (King Air), UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota. McClain is the Army NASA Detachment 

Commander – a unit in Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).

NASA Experience:

McClain was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. Her candidate training 

included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, 

robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. She completed astronaut 

candidate training in July 2015. 

McClain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 58 and 59. She is an 

Instructor Astronaut for Robotics, EVA, and CAPCOM. In addition, McClain has served in a variety of other jobs, including 

branch chief and International Space Station Assistant to the Chief within NASA’s Astronaut Office.

Spaceflight Experience:

Expedition 58/59 (December 3, 2018 through June 24, 2019). The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome

aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft. McClain, who served as Flight Engineer and US Orbital Segment Lead, was joined by 

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut David Saint-Jacques, as well as Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko. The Expedition 

59 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, including 

investigations into small devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs, editing DNA in space for the 

first time and recycling 3D-printed material. McClain was lead spacewalker on two spacewalks, totaling 13 hours and 8 

minutes on her mission into space. She has spent a total of 204 days in space.

Awards/Honors:

Awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal,

Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Metal, Air Medal with Valor, Air Medals III, two Army Commendation Medals, 

two Army Achievement Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service 

Medal, and three Overseas Service Ribbons. McClain was also awarded the NASA Spaceflight Medal. Military devices 

include the Combat Action Badge, Master Aviator Badge with Astronaut Device, Master Space Badge, and Air Assault 

Badge.

Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College ILE (2011). Distinguished Honor 

Graduate from the Army’s Captains Career Course (2009). Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Initial Entry 

Rotary Wing School (2006). Graduated with distinction from the University of Bristol (2005). Marshall Scholarship (2002). 

Dennis Hart Mahan Memorial Award for excellence in Aeronautical Engineering (2002). National Fastpitch Coaching 

Association All-American Scholar-Athlete (1999 to 2002). USA Rugby Women’s National Team (2004 to 2006, 2010). 

Captain of USA Rugby South Women’s XV All-Stars (2010). Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of 

Bath (2023). Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Bristol (2023). Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. 

Army War College (2023).
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Anne C. McClain

Organizations: 

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Alumni Association, Women Military Aviators, Association 

of Marshall Scholars, U.S. Military Academy Association of Graduates.