Joe F . Edwards , Jr . Joe Frank Edwards , Jr . ( born February 3 , 1958 ) , is a former United States Navy officer and NASA astronaut . Early life and education . Edwards was born in Richmond , Virginia , but considers Lineville , Alabama to be his hometown . He graduated from Lineville High School in 1976 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1980 . In 1994 , he received a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from University of Tennessee in Knoxville . Career . Edwards was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1982 . He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 143 ( VF - 143 ) in 1983 , after completion of F - 14 Tomcat training , and flew fighter escort and reconnaissance combat missions over Lebanon in 1983 . He graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School ( TOPGUN ) in 1984 and from U . S . Naval Test Pilot School in 1986 . He subsequently worked as project flight test officer and pilot for F - 14A ( PLUS ) and F - 14D Full Scale Development . He flew the first Navy flight of the F - 14D and a high angle of attack / departure from controlled flight test program for the F - 14 airframe / F110 engine integration . He served as Operations and Maintenance Officer in Fighter Squadron 142 ( VF - 142 ) from 1989 to 1992 . He worked as Operations Officer in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Washington , D . C . from 1992 to 1994 . He has flown 4 , 000 hours in over 25 different aircraft and logged over 650 carrier - arrested landings . On October 13 , 1991 , while serving as maintenance officer of VF - 142 , he was flying in the Persian Gulf at Mach 0 . 9 at when the radome separated from his airplane , impacted , and destroyed his canopy . With a blinded eye , collapsed lung , broken arm and no communications or flight instruments , he recovered his " convertible " Tomcat with his Radar Intercept Officer LCDR Scott Grundmeier hunkered down in the rear cockpit and landed aboard the . He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this superior display of airmanship under grave circumstances . Awards and memberships . Edwards is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots , Association of Naval Aviation , and the U . S . Naval Institute . He has received the Defense Superior Service Medal , Distinguished Flying Cross , Defense Meritorious Service Medal , Air Medal , Navy Commendation Medal , Navy Achievement Medal , Daedalian Superior Airmanship Award 1992 , Fighter Squadron 143 Fighter Pilot of the Year , 1984 , 1985 , Fighter Squadron 142 Fighter Pilot of the Year , 1990 , 1991 , 1992 . Carrier Air Wing 7 Pilot of the Year , 1985 , 1990 , 1991 . NASA career . Edwards was selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994 . Edwards reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995 . He worked on technical issues for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station in the Safety Department of the Astronaut Office . He also served as Technical Assistant to the Director , Flight Crew Operations Directorate , NASA Director of Operations ( DOR ) , Russia , and Astronaut CAPCOM representative in Mission Control for Shuttle ascent and entry . Edwards flew on STS - 89 ( January 22 – 31 , 1998 ) , the eighth Shuttle - Mir docking mission , during which the crew transferred more than of scientific equipment , logistical hardware and water from to Mir . In the fifth and last exchange of a U . S . astronaut , STS - 89 delivered Andy Thomas to Mir and returned with David Wolf . Mission duration was 8 days , 19 hours and 47 seconds , traveling 3 . 6 million miles ( 5 . 8 million km ) in 138 orbits of the Earth . Personal life . Edwards retired from NASA and the U . S . Navy on April 30 , 2000 . He is currently involved with several companies around the country in the areas of technology , aviation , and business development . He is married to the former Janet Leigh Ragan of Leonardtown , Maryland . He enjoys basketball , running , football and softball . His parents , Joe Frank and Jane McMurray Edwards , reside in Roanoke , Alabama .