Reid Wiseman

Reid Wiseman, born on November 11, 1975, is a distinguished American astronaut and naval aviator whose career has spanned various high-stakes roles, including systems engineer, fighter pilot, and test pilot. His journey with NASA began in June 2009 when he was selected as a member of the Astronaut Group 20, and he qualified as an astronaut in 2011.

Wiseman's first venture into space occurred during Expedition 40/41, which launched to the International Space Station on May 28, 2014. He returned to Earth on November 10, 2014, marking a significant milestone in his career. Before his tenure at NASA, he honed his skills as a naval aviator and test pilot, laying a solid foundation for his future endeavors in space exploration.

In June 2017, Wiseman was appointed Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, working under Chief Astronaut Patrick Forrester. His leadership capabilities were recognized, and on December 18, 2020, he was promoted to Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA. He held this prestigious position until December 2022, when he stepped down and was succeeded by Drew Feustel, who served as acting chief until Joseph Acaba took over in February 2023.

Looking ahead, Wiseman has been selected as the commander of the Artemis II flight, a mission set to make a historic flyby of the Moon in 2026. This role positions him as the first commander of a lunar mission since Gene Cernan led Apollo 17 in 1972, further solidifying his legacy in the annals of space exploration.