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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

April 2023

Scott D. Tingle

NASA Astronaut (Captain, U.S. Navy) 

Summary:

Scott D. Tingle was selected by NASA in 2009. Raised in Randolph, Massachusetts, he earned his Bachelor of Science 

degree in mechanical engineering at Southeastern Massachusetts University and his Master of Science degree in 

mechanical engineering at Purdue University. Following graduate school, Tingle spent three years with the Aerospace 

Corporation, El Segundo, California, as a member of technical staff in their Propulsion Department. He was 

commissioned as a naval officer in 1991.

Tingle has logged a total of 168 days in space on one mission. In 2017, Tingle flew aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the 

International Space Station, where he served as flight engineer for Expedition 54/55.

Tingle will serve as commander on NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station, flying aboard 

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The mission will be the spacecraft’s first mission following completion of its flight 

tests and certification.

Personal Data:

Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, but considers Randolph, Massachusetts his hometown. Married to the former 

Raynette Mahelona of Kailua, Hawaii; they have three children.

Education:

Graduated from Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical High School, Canton, Massachusetts, in 1983. Earned a Bachelor 

of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1987. Earned a Master of 

Science degree in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics and propulsion from Purdue University, 

West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1988. Attended Naval Aviation Safety Officer School in Jan. 2000. Attended University of 

Virginia’s Darden School of Business Executive Leadership program in June 2015.

Experience:

Following graduate school, Tingle spent three years with the Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California, as a 

member of technical staff in their Propulsion Department. He was commissioned as a naval officer in 1991 and earned 

his wings of gold as a naval aviator in 1993. He began his operational flying career in 1994 with the Blue Diamonds of 

VFA-146 based in Lemoore, California. He deployed to the Western Pacific and North Arabian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing 

Nine aboard the USS Nimitz. Following graduation from Navy Test Pilot School in 1998, he performed as an operational 

test pilot for the FA-18E/F Super Hornet program with the Vampires of VX-9, located at China Lake, California. Tingle 

then completed a CAG Paddles tour flying FA-18A/C Hornets with Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) aboard USS Carl 

Vinson. CVW-11 and USS Carl Vinson were first responders for the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and Executed Operation 

Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. After a tour as assistant operations officer with the Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and 

instructor pilot with VFA-122, he completed a department head tour as safety officer, maintenance officer and 
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

Scott D. Tingle

operations officer while flying the FA-18A Hornet with the Warhawks of VFA-97 (Lemoore, California). Tingle completed 

a deployment with CVW-11 to the Western Pacific/North Arabian Gulf and deployed with Marine Air Group Twelve 

(MAG-12) to Iwakuni, Japan. In 2005, Tingle returned to Patuxent River, Maryland, as the ship suitability department 

head and test pilot with the Salty Dogs of VX-23. Here, he tested FA-18C Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet, and EA-18G 

Growler aircraft and certified aircraft carrier precision landing systems. Tingle was attached to PMA-201 as the assistant 

program manager/systems engineer for the Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and Harpoon weapon systems when 

selected as an astronaut. He has accumulated more than 4,500 flight hours in 55 types of aircraft, 750 carrier 

arrestments and 54 combat missions.

NASA Experience:

Tingle was selected in July 2009 as one of nine members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. His Astronaut 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. Tingle will 

serve as commander on NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station, flying aboard Boeing’s CST100 Starliner spacecraft. The mission will be the spacecraft’s first mission following completion of its flight tests and 

certification.

Spaceflight Experience:

Tingle has logged a total of 168 days in space on one mission.

Expedition 54/55 (December 17, 2017 through June 3, 2018). Tingle served as flight engineer and U.S. operational 

segment lead aboard the International Space Station. The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 

aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. Tingle was joined by Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and Norishige 

Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. During the mission, hundreds of experiments were conducted, 

including materials testing, capillary flow experiments, combustion research, and research into plant growth in space. 

They also captured and released four cargo spacecraft delivering several tons of supplies and experiments. Tingle and 

Kanai ventured outside the station on separate spacewalks to perform work on parts of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. 

They also participated in dozens of educational events as part of NASA’s Year of Education on Station.

Awards/Honors:

Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; NASA Space Flight Medal; NASA 

Distinguished Service Medal; three Air Medals; six Navy Commendation Medals including one with Combat Valor, four 

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit commendations. Graduated magna cum laude from 

Southeastern Massachusetts University. Outstanding Graduate of U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Class 113.

Organizations: 

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Experimental Aircraft Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and 

Astronautics, Tailhook Association, U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Alumni Association, Purdue University Alumni Association, 

University of Massachusetts Alumni Association, Save the Children.

Pronunciation: 

SKOT TING-le