Alvin Drew

Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr., born on November 5, 1962, is a distinguished United States Air Force officer and a prominent figure in the realm of space exploration. Currently, he serves as the director of space sustainability and the acting director of Cross-Directorate Technical Integration for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate. His career as a NASA astronaut is marked by significant achievements, including participation in two notable spaceflights.

Drew's first venture into space occurred in August 2007 during the Space Shuttle mission STS-118, where he contributed to the International Space Station (ISS). His second mission, STS-133, took place in March 2011 and was particularly historic as it marked the final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. During this mission, Drew conducted two spacewalks while docked to the ISS, showcasing his expertise and dedication to space exploration.

In July 2000, Drew was selected as part of NASA's Astronaut Group 18, a pivotal moment that set the stage for his future contributions to the agency. Following his initial spaceflight, he spent nearly a year at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center in Star City, Russia, where he oversaw NASA's training operations as the director of operations, further solidifying his role in international space collaboration.

Notably, Drew holds the distinction of being the last African-American astronaut to fly aboard a Space Shuttle, as the subsequent missions, STS-134 and STS-135, did not include any African-American crew members. On February 28, 2011, he made history by becoming the two-hundredth person to walk in space, conducting the first spacewalk of the STS-133 mission alongside fellow astronaut Steve Bowen.