Randolph Bresnik Randolph James " Komrade " Bresnik ( born September 11 , 1967 ) is a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and a NASA astronaut . A Marine Aviator by trade , Bresnik was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 19 in May 2004 . Bresnik completed his Astronaut Candidate Training in February 2006 . Biography . Bresnik was born in Fort Knox , Kentucky but considers Santa Monica , California to be his hometown . Bresnik graduated from Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica , California , in 1985 . He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from The Citadel in 1989 , and later a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville in 2002 . He then graduated from the Air War College in 2008 . Randy is the first graduate of The Citadel to have the opportunity to fly in space . Bresnik ' s family includes his wife , Rebecca Burgin of Pompton Plains , New Jersey , a son Wyatt ( 2006 ) , and a daughter Abigail Mae ( 2009 ) who was born while he was in orbit during STS - 129 . This marked the second time a space traveller became a parent while in orbit ; it first happened when Franz Viehböck ' s daughter was born while he was in space in 1991 . His father is Albert ‘ Randy ’ Bresnik . His second cousin is Robert Bresnik , a well - known artist in San Diego , California . Marine Corps service . In May 1989 , Bresnik received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U . S . Marine Corps from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at The Citadel . After graduation he attended The Basic School ( TBS ) and Infantry Officers Course ( IOC ) at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia . Following Aviation Indoctrination and Primary flight training in Pensacola , Florida , he entered Intermediate and Advanced flight training in Beeville , Texas , and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1992 . Bresnik then reported to the Navy Fighter / Attack Training Squadron VFA - 106 , Naval Air Station Cecil Field , Florida , for initial F / A - 18 training . Upon completion of training he reported to Marine Fighter / Attack Squadron , VMFA - 212 at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , then MCAS El Toro , California , and additionally MCAS Miramar , California , where he made three overseas deployments to the Western Pacific . While assigned to VMFA - 212 , he attended the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course ( WTI ) and Naval Fighter Weapons School ( TOPGUN ) . Bresnik was selected for the U . S . Naval Test Pilot School ( USNTPS ) at NAS Patuxent River , Maryland , and began the course January 1999 . After graduation in December 1999 , he was assigned as a F / A - 18 Test Pilot / Project Officer at VX - 23 , the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron ( NSATS ) . While at Strike , Bresnik flew the F / A - 18 A - D and F / A - 18 E / F in all manners of flight test . In January 2001 , he returned to the USNTPS as a Fixed - Wing and Systems Flight Instructor , where he instructed in the F / A - 18 , T - 38 Talon , and T - 2 Buckeye . Bresnik returned to NSATS in January 2002 to continue flight test on the F / A - 18 A - F as the Platform / Project Coordinator . In November 2002 , he reported to Marine Aircraft Group 11 ( MAG - 11 ) as the Future Operations Officer . In January 2003 , MAG - 11 deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base , Kuwait . From Al Jaber , he flew combat missions in the F / A - 18 with VMFA ( AW ) - 225 in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom . Bresnik was the Operations Officer of VMFA - 232 when he was selected for the astronaut program . During his military service he was awarded : Defense Meritorious Service Medal , Meritorious Service Medal , Strike / Flight Air Medal ( 3 ) , Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “ V ” ( 3 ) , Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ( 3 ) , Presidential Unit Citation and various other service awards . NASA service . Bresnik was selected by NASA in May 2004 as an astronaut candidate . He was one of two pilots chosen in the Astronaut Class of 2004 . In February 2006 , he completed Astronaut Candidate Training . In November 2009 , he flew as a Mission Specialist on STS - 129 . He participated in the second and the third spacewalks of the mission . Bresnik ' s two spacewalks totalled 11 hours and 50 minutes . His wife Rebecca gave birth to their daughter , Abigail Mae Bresnik on 21 November 2009 at 11 : 04 p . m . CST , while he was on orbit .