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

Summary:

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

2017. The Colorado native earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego and a 

Master of Science degree in in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He graduated from U.S. Naval 

Test Pilot School. He has more than 1,600 hours of flight time in 28 aircraft, 400 carrier-arrested landings, and 61 combat 

missions. Matthew Dominick launched to the International Space Station March 3, 2024 as commander of NASA’s 

SpaceX Crew-8 mission. He’s serving as a flight engineer aboard the orbiting laboratory and will spend approximately 6 

months conducting science experiments and maintaining the space station.

Personal Data:

Dominick was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He is married to Faith Dominick, and the couple has two 

daughters. His parents, Donald and Rhonda Dominick, still live in Wheat Ridge.

Education:

Graduated from D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School in Golden, Colorado. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical 

Engineering from the University of San Diego with minors in Physics and Mathematics. Earned a Master of Science in 

Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Test 

Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Experience:

Dominick was commissioned through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) following graduation from the 

University of San Diego in 2005 and reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He was designated as a Naval 

Aviator in 2007 and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for transition to the

F/A-18E Super Hornet. Following his initial training, Dominick was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 143. He made two 

deployments to the North Arabian Sea, flying close air support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While with Strike Fighter Squadron 143, Dominick was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School / U.S. Naval 

Test Pilot School Co-Operative Program, where he earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval 

Post Graduate School and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Designated a developmental test pilot in 2013, Dominick was assigned to the fixed wing carrier suitability flight test 

department of Air Test Evaluation Squadron 23. There he served as developmental flight test project officer for a variety 

of carrier suitability test programs, including MAGIC CARPET, Joint Precision Approach & Landing Systems, Infrared 

Search and Track Pod, and the precision approach and landing certification of aircraft carriers. He flew developmental 

flight tests in the F/A-18ABCD, F/A-18E/F, and EA-18G. Additionally, he contributed to X-47B, Unmanned Carrier 

Launched Surveillance and Strike, V-22, T-45, E-2C, C-2A, and F-35C test programs.

Matthew Dominick

(Commander, U.S. Navy) NASA Astronaut 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

September 2023
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies

In 2016, Dominick returned to an operational naval squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 115, flying F/A-18E Super Hornets 

in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces stationed in Atsugi, Japan. At the time of his selection as an Astronaut Candidate 

in June 2017, Dominick was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) serving in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator and a 

department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115. He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours in 28 aircraft 

models, 400 carrier arrestments, 61 combat missions, and nearly 200 flight test carrier landings (arrested and touchand-go).

NASA Experience:

Dominick reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. Matthew 

Dominick launched to the International Space Station March 3, 2024 as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission. 

He’s serving as a flight engineer aboard the orbiting laboratory and will spend approximately 6 months conducting 

science experiments and maintaining the space station.

Awards/Honors:

2015 Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year; Member of the 2015 Department of the Navy Test Team of the 

Year; Strike Flight Air Medal (three awards); Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal; and Navy Marine Corps 

Achievement Medal (three awards)

Organizations:

Society of Experimental Test Pilots Society of Flight Test Engineers and Tailhook Association.

Matthew Dominick