Jeffrey N. Williams
NASA astronaut
Personal data
Born, 18 January 1958 in Superior, Wisconsin. Married to the former Anna-Marie Moore of Newburgh, New York. They have two sons. Enjoys running, fishing, camping, skiing, scuba diving and woodworking.
Education
Graduated from Winter High School, Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976; received a Bachelor of Science degree in applied science and engineering from the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) in 1980, a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and the degree of aeronautical engineer from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, both in 1987, and a Master of Arts degree in National security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 1996.
Organisations
Association of the U.S. Army, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, American Helicopter Society, Army Aviation Association of America, USMA Association of Graduates, Order of Daedalians, Officer Christian Fellowship.
Special honours
Graduated first in U.S. Naval Test Pilot School class 103; 1988 Admiral William Adger Moffett Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School; 1985 Daedalian Foundation Fellowship Award for Graduate Study in Aeronautics. Awarded Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and various other service awards. Master Army Aviator, Senior Space and Parachutist badges.
Experience
Williams began an Army assignment at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in 1987. Until his transfer in 1992, he served as a Shuttle launch and landing operations engineer, a pilot in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, and chief of the Operations Development Office, Flight Crew Operations Directorate.
Selected as an astronaut by NASA in May 1996, Williams again reported to JSC in August 1996.
After completing two years of training and evaluation, he performed technical duties in the Spacecraft Systems Branch and later in the Space Station Operations Branch on temporary assignment to Marshall Space Flight Center.
In May 2000, he served as the flight engineer and lead spacewalker on STS-101. Since STS-101, he has served in the EVA Branch of the Astronaut Office, led the development of the cockpit upgrade requirements for the Space Shuttle, and completed a temporary assignment at NASA Headquarters in support of legislative affairs.
In July 2002, Williams commanded a nine-day undersea coral reef expedition operating from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Aquarius habitat off the coast of Florida.
Since November 2002, he has been training for an upcoming long-duration expedition on the International Space Station (ISS) shuttling between JSC and Star City, Russia. Williams was the backup Commander and Soyuz Flight Engineer for the ISS Expedition 12 crew launched on 30 September 2005.
Williams has logged over 2,500 hours in more than 50 different aircraft.
Spaceflight experience
STS-101 Atlantis (19-29 May 2000) was the third Shuttle mission devoted to ISS construction. Objectives included transporting and installing equipment and supplies, and included Williams’ first EVA (spacewalk) lasting nearly 7 hours.
Between March and September 2006, Williams served as Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer for Expedition 13 on board the International Space Station. Expedition 13 returned to Earth with the Soyuz TMA-8, landing in Kazakhstan early on 29 September 2006.