Michael E . Fossum Michael Edward Fossum ( born December 19 , 1957 in Sioux Falls , South Dakota ) is an American astronaut . He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS - 121 and STS - 124 and served as a mission specialist of Expedition 28 and commander of Expedition 29 aboard the International Space Station . Education . Michael Fossum spent his early life in McAllen , Texas . He graduated from McAllen High School in 1976 . He then attended the University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg , Texas and later went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A & M University in 1980 , followed by a Master of Science degree in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1981 . In 1997 , Fossum received a Master of Science degree in physical science from the University of Houston – Clear Lake . Air Force . Fossum was involved with the United States Air Force during his undergraduate years and served as commander of Squadron 3 in the Corps of Cadets . After receiving his first master ' s degree , he was selected to attend Air Force Test Pilot School from which he graduated in 1985 . He left active duty for the Air Force Reserve in 1992 in order to work for NASA . He retired as a Colonel in the U . S . Air Force Reserve in 2010 , and has logged 1000 hours in 34 different kinds of aircraft . NASA . The first time Fossum became interested in being an astronaut was at age 12 while watching the Apollo 11 moon landing . He rekindled this dream while he was assigned by the Air Force at Johnson Space Center during the early 1990s . In January 1993 , Fossum was employed by NASA as a Systems Engineer . His primary responsibilities were to evaluate the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for use as an emergency escape vehicle for the new international space station . Later in 1993 , Fossum was selected to represent the Flight Crew Operations Directorate in an extensive redesign of the International Space Station ( ISS ) . After this , he continued work for the crew office and Mission Operations Directorate in the area of assembly operations . In 1996 , Fossum supported the Astronaut Office as a Technical Assistant for Space Shuttle , supporting design and management reviews . In 1997 , he served as a Flight Test Engineer on the X - 38 , a prototype crew escape vehicle for the ISS , which was under development in house by the Engineering Directorate at NASA - JSC and flight tested at NASA Dryden . Fossum was selected by NASA as an Astronaut Candidate in June 1998 , having applied during almost every selection period since 1988 ( 7 times ) . He reported for training in August 1998 . Fossum previously served as the Astronaut Office Lead for ISS flight software development . As a Capsule Communicator ( CAPCOM ) in Mission Control , Fossum supported several flights , including Lead CAPCOM for ISS Expedition 6 . A veteran of three space flights , STS - 121 in 2006 , STS - 124 in 2008 and Expedition 28 / 29 in 2011 , Fossum has logged more than 194 days in space , including more than 48 hours of Extravehicular Activity ( EVA ) in seven spacewalks . Space flight . He entered space for the first time on July 4 , 2006 as a mission specialist of mission STS - 121 to the International Space Station where he participated in three spacewalks . On July 8 , Fossum with Piers Sellers conducted a 7 and a half hour spacewalk making a repair to the ISS and testing using the Shuttle ' s arm as a platform for making repairs to the Shuttle . Fossum became the first Texas A & M undergraduate to travel to space . In 2008 , Fossum assumed the role of mission specialist onboard STS - 124 launching on May 31 , 2008 . The mission ' s primary objective was the delivery and installment of Japan ' s Kibo Laboratory module . Once attached , this module became the largest and most scientifically capable addition to the International Space Station . Fossum took part in the installation as lead spacewalker , EVA - 1 , accompanied by fellow spacewalker Ron Garan . They would ultimately performed three spacewalks during the 14 day mission . On June 7 , 2011 Fossum launched in a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrone , Kazakhstan , to the ISS to become part of the Expedition 28 crew , where he was reunited with former crewmate Ron Garan . Upon the departure of Expedition 28 , Fossum served as ISS Commander during Expedition 29 . Fossum returned to Earth with crewmates Sergey Volkov and Satoshi Furukama on November 22 , 2011 , on board a Soyuz spacecraft . Personal . Fossum is married to the former Melanie J . London and they have four children together . In his spare time he enjoys activities with his family and pastimes such as jogging and backpacking . As an Eagle Scout , he is also very involved with the Boy Scouts of America ( BSA ) as well as the Order of the Arrow and is the Scoutmaster of Troop 1598 based in Webster , TX . The BSA has honored him with its Distinguished Eagle Scout Award . On May 30 , 2007 , Fossum was invited to be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony at Philmont Scout Ranch , starting off the ranch ' s 2007 season by relating to the staff there how his experiences both in scouting and at Philmont helped him overcome many challenges in his life . He still keeps a close affiliation with Texas A & M University and the University ' s Corps of Cadets , from which he graduated in 1980 . Since returning from his first mission in 2006 , he has been involved in many different Texas A & M speaking events , including Elephant Walk , Aggie Muster , JCAP ( Corps of Cadets ) , and the presentation of an Aggie flag flown on STS - 121 at a Texas A & M football game . On March 6 , 2010 , Fossum became the youngest person inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor . In 2011 , NASA worked with the Texas A & M School of Engineering to host a live interview from the ISS between Fossum and Aggie students . A Junior High School in McAllen , Texas has been named after Fossum . Fossum resides in Houston , Texas . He is of Norwegian descent and his ancestors probably emigrated from Fossum in the municipality of Baerum , Norway .