![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jeff-williams.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>Dec. 11, 2023<\/p>\n
RELEASE: J23-007<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey Williams, who played a key role in the design, construction, and operation of the International Space Station, is retiring on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, after more than 27 years of service at the agency.<\/p>\n The two-time station commander spent 534 cumulative days in space spanning four trips to the space station. He spent nearly 32 hours outside of the orbital laboratory on five spacewalks.<\/p>\n \u201cJeff\u2019s dedication and commitment to advancing NASA\u2019s mission for the benefit of all humanity is truly admirable,\u201d said NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. \u201cHis willingness to go above and beyond has impacted several generations and will continue to inspire future generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to his time in space, he tested and evaluated the space station\u2019s U.S. laboratory module Destiny during its final assembly at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, led the development of a space shuttle cockpit upgrade, worked in legislative affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington, commanded a nine-day NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) mission in the Aquarius undersea habitat off the coast of Florida, and worked extensively in spacewalk development.<\/p>\n Since 2017, he has been assistant director of Flight Operations at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Among his many accomplishments, he served as chair of the Multinational Crew Operations Panel, responsible for International Space Station crew assignments, qualifications, and training. Most recently, he served on a review board overseeing development of lunar surface projects for the Moon to Mars architecture.<\/p>\n \u201cI had the pleasure of working with Jeff from the very beginning of our careers \u2013 first in the earliest days of the space station, and now working together to put the next humans on the Moon,\u201d said Norm Knight, director of flight operations, NASA Johnson. \u201cOver the course of his 27 years with us, I\u2019ve always admired his leadership, mentorship, and passion for all things spaceflight. He will be so missed, and I\u2019m excited to see what comes next for him.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wisconsin native joined NASA Johnson on a four-year Army assignment supporting the Space Shuttle Program in 1987. He was selected to join the NASA astronaut class of 1996. His first mission was on the crew of STS-101, launching on space shuttle Atlantis for the third mission devoted to station construction. His first long duration mission was Expedition 13, launching in March 2006 on Soyuz TMA-8 and lasting six months as station construction resumed with the shuttle return-to-flight after the Columbia accident. For his third flight, Expeditions 21\/22, Williams launched in October 2009 aboard Soyuz TMA-16 for another six-month stay \u2013 this time to integrate the station\u2019s Tranquility module and its cupola to complete station construction. Williams\u2019 final spaceflight launched in March 2016 on Soyuz TMA-20M for Expeditions 47\/48 which saw the arrival of the station\u2019s Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, the integration of an international docking adaptor for commercial crew spacecraft, and the continuation of science and technology demonstrations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a tremendous honor and privilege to work with the best team in the world here at NASA,\u201d Williams said, \u201cand to share in what has to be the greatest technological and operational achievement in human history \u2013 the International Space Station \u2013 designed and built in many different places and countries on the planet, assembled and integrated off the planet, and continually operated for now more than 25 years, all in the context of international partnership. I am incredibly grateful to the many friends, mentors, and coworkers I\u2019ve been privileged to labor with, who span three generations and range from those who worked in the Apollo Program all the way to the newest team members now dedicated to returning to the Moon.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, Williams lived and worked with 56 different individuals from eight different countries aboard the orbital outpost. His flights spanned 16 years of the space station\u2019s assembly, construction, and emerging operational capability. He contributed to hundreds of scientific experiments and a broad spectrum of technology development projects.<\/p>\n Prior to becoming an astronaut, Williams attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in Applied Science and Engineering, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a master\u2019s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned a master\u2019s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He served in the 3rd Armored Division\u2019s 503rd Aviation Battalion as an Army aviator in West Germany. He attended Naval Test Pilot School, graduating first in his class in 1992 and then served as an experimental test pilot before becoming an astronaut. He retired from Army active duty in 2007 with more than 27 years of military service and 3,100 hours in more than 50 different aircraft. His experience has spanned more than 47 years.<\/p>\n Learn more about how NASA explores the unknown and innovates for the benefit of humanity at: https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/<\/a> <\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Chelsey Ballarte Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> Dec. 11, 2023 RELEASE: J23-007 NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey Williams, who played a key role in the design, construction, and operation of the International Space Station, is retiring on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, after more than 27 years of service at the agency. The two-time station commander spent 534 cumulative days [\u2026] Continue reading
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
Chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov<\/p>\n
\nWendy K. Avedisian <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"