Michael Foreman ( astronaut ) Michael James Foreman ( born March 29 , 1957 ) is an American astronaut . Foreman was born in Columbus , Ohio , and grew up in Wadsworth , Ohio . He is married to Lorrie Dancer of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma . They have three children . He graduated from Wadsworth High School , Wadsworth , Ohio , in 1975 ; received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the U . S . Naval Academy in 1979 and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School in 1986 . Awards and honors . Association of Naval Aviation , United States Naval Academy Alumni Association , Society of Experimental Test Pilots . Legion of Merit , Defense Meritorious Service Medal , Meritorious Service Medal , Navy Commendation Medal ; Navy Achievement Medal and various other service awards . Graduated with Distinction , U . S . Naval Postgraduate School ; Admiral William Adger Moffett Aeronautics Award , U . S . Naval Postgraduate School ; Distinguished Graduate , U . S . Naval Test Pilot School ; Empire Test Pilots School - sponsored award for best final report ( DT - IIA ) , U . S . Naval Test Pilot School . Military career . Foreman was designated a Naval Aviator in January 1981 and assigned to Patrol Squadron 23 ( VP - 23 ) at NAS Brunswick , Maine . He made deployments to Rota , Spain ; Lajes , Azores ; Bermuda and Panama . Following this tour he attended the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey , California where he earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1986 . As a graduate student , Foreman conducted thesis research at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field , California . Following graduation he was assigned as the Assistant Air Operations Officer in homeported in Norfolk , Virginia . In addition to his Air Operations duties , he flew as an E - 2 Hawkeye pilot with VAW - 120 and VAW - 127 . Upon selection to the U . S . Naval Test Pilot School in 1989 , he moved to NAS Patuxent River , Maryland . He graduated in June 1990 and was assigned to the Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate . In 1991 he was reassigned as a flight instructor and the Operations Officer at U . S . Naval Test Pilot School . During his tenure there he instructed in the F / A - 18 , P - 3 Orion , T - 2 , T - 38 Talon , U - 21 , DHC - 2 and the X - 26 Frigate glider . In 1993 , Foreman was assigned to the Naval Air Systems Command in Crystal City , Virginia , first as the deputy , and then as the Class Desk ( Chief Engineer ) Officer for the T - 45 Goshawk aircraft program . Following that tour he returned to NAS Patuxent River , this time as the Military Director for the Research and Engineering Group of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division . In addition to his duties at Patuxent River , he was assigned as the Navy liaison to NASA ’ s Advanced Orbiter Cockpit Project at the Johnson Space Center in Houston , Texas . Foreman was working as the technical lead for the Advanced Orbiter Cockpit Project team when he was selected for the astronaut program . He has logged over 5 , 000 hours in more than 50 different aircraft . NASA career . Selected by NASA in June 1998 , he reported for training in August 1998 . Astronaut Candidate Training included orientation briefings and tours , numerous scientific and technical briefings , intensive instruction in Space Shuttle and International Space Station systems , physiological training and ground school to prepare for T - 38 flight training , as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques . He was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Branch where he represented the Astronaut Office on training issues . He was then assigned to the Space Shuttle Branch as a liaison between the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center , and also served as the Deputy , Space Shuttle Branch . Foreman was part of the STS - 123 mission that delivered the Japanese Experiment Module and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator to the International Space Station . Foreman was also a crewmember of the STS - 129 mission in November 2009 .