Gregory H . Johnson Gregory Harold " Box " Johnson is a NASA astronaut and a retired colonel in the United States Air Force . Johnson is a veteran of two space flights , STS - 123 and STS - 134 . He served as pilot on his first mission , which delivered the Kibo logistics module and the Dextre robot arm to the International Space Station . Johnson was also assigned as the pilot to the STS - 134 mission , which launched on May 16 , 2011 and landed on June 1 , 2011 . Greg Johnson has also served in numerous roles for NASA including as a Capcom for several missions . Background . Johnson was born in 1962 in South Ruislip , Middlesex , United Kingdom . He graduated from Park Hills High School ( now Fairborn High School ) , Fairborn , Ohio in 1980 . He is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America . He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1984 , a Master of Science in flight structures engineering from Columbia University in 1985 , and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005 . Johnson is married to the former Cari M . Harbaugh . They have three children , Matthew , Joseph , and Rachel . Military career . Johnson received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1984 and attended pilot training at Reese Air Force Base , Texas . He was retained as a T - 38A instructor pilot until 1989 , when he was selected for an F - 15E Eagle assignment . After completing initial F - 15E training , Johnson was assigned to the 335th Fighter Squadron , at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina . In December 1990 , Johnson deployed to Al Kharj , Saudi Arabia , flying 34 combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm . In December 1992 , he was again deployed to Saudi Arabia for three months , flying an additional 27 combat missions in support of Operation Southern Watch . In 1993 , he was selected for Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base . After graduation , he was assigned to the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards , where he flew and tested F - 15C / E , NF - 15B , and T - 38A / B aircraft . He has logged over 3 , 500 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft . The story of the name " Box " has been a mystery . During a recent interview with a group of Executive Management students at the University of Texas , Mr . Johnson stated that the origination of the name " Box Johnson " came from his tour in Desert Storm . Mr . Johnson incurred a back injury that lead him to being sent home early . He put all of his belongings in a box and then he was taken back to the states . The box was left in the barracks as a reminder to all his fellow soldiers to stare at thinking about how he was at home . So after a while they wrote " Box Johnson " on the box and the name stuck ! NASA career . Selected by NASA in June 1998 , he reported for training in August 1998 . He completed Astronaut Candidate Training in 2000 . Following initial training and evaluation , astronaut candidates receive technical assignments within the Flight Crew Operations Directorate before being assigned to a space flight . In 2000 , Johnson was assigned as a Technical Assistant to the Director , Flight Crew Operations Directorate ( FCOD ) . In conjunction with that position , Johnson was assigned to the Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrade ( CAU ) council – redesigning cockpit displays for future Space Shuttle missions . His design and evaluation work with CAU has continued to the present . In 2001 , Johnson was reassigned from FCOD to the Space Shuttle Branch , where he has held various positions including direct support to the crews of STS - 100 and STS - 108 , chief of shuttle abort planning and procedures for contingency scenarios , and ascent procedure development . He also was a key player on several “ tiger team s ” during the investigation into the cause of the Columbia accident in 2003 . Johnson was the astronaut representative to the External Tank ( ET ) foam impact test team that eventually proved that ET foam debris on ascent could critically damage the shuttle ’ s leading edge thermal protection system . In 2004 , Johnson was designated as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Safety Branch , focusing on all aspects of Space Shuttle , ISS , and T - 38 safety , with special emphasis on improving specific operational procedures and techniques to make astronauts safer in all three vehicles . In 2005 , Johnson was appointed as a crew representative supporting the design and testing of NASA ’ s newest spacecraft , the Crew Exploration Vehicle . Johnson was the pilot on STS - 123 . The launch of STS - 123 was March 11 , 2008 . Johnson was picked to be the mission ' s primary robotic arm operator . He retired from the Air Force on February 1 , 2009 and continued to serve NASA as a civilian . Johnson was the pilot of STS - 134 , the final flight of Space Shuttle " Endeavour " and the penultimate flight of the Space Shuttle Program . Awards and honors . Johnson has been awarded the 2005 Stephen D . Thorne Top Fox Safety Award , the 2005 Dean ’ s Award for Academic Excellence , McCombs School of Business , NASA Superior Performance Award , and the 1996 Lieutenant General Bobby Bond Award for the top Air Force test pilot . Johnson was a distinguished graduate of U . S . Air Force Test Pilot School and the U . S . Air Force Academy . His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross , Meritorious Service Medal ( 2 ) , Air Medal ( 4 ) , Aerial Achievement Medal ( 3 ) , Air Force Commendation Medal , and the Air Force Achievement Medal ( 2 ) .