George D. Zamka

George D. Zamka is a retired United States Marine Corps colonel, former NASA astronaut, and test pilot. He served as pilot on Space Shuttle mission STS-120 and commander on STS-130, accumulating over 28 days in space. Following his NASA career, Zamka held senior positions at the Federal Aviation Administration and within the commercial space sector.

Early life and education

George David Zamka was born on June 29, 1962, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He spent part of his youth in Medellín, Colombia, and Rochester, New York, before his family settled in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He graduated from Henry Ford II High School and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. Zamka later received a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School.

NASA career

Selected by NASA as a member of Group 18 in 1998, Zamka completed two years of training and evaluation at the Johnson Space Center. He served in various technical roles within the Astronaut Office, including as a spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, in Mission Control Center for several Space Shuttle and International Space Station expeditions. His leadership assignments included serving as deputy director of the Johnson Space Center's exploration integration office, where he contributed to planning for missions beyond Low Earth orbit.

Spaceflight experience

Zamka's first spaceflight was as pilot of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120 in October 2007. This crucial assembly flight delivered the Harmony module to the International Space Station and featured complex spacewalks to reconfigure station power systems. His second and final flight was as commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-130 in February 2010. This mission delivered and installed the Tranquility module and the Cupola observation dome, significantly expanding the station's living space and providing a panoramic view of Earth.

Post-NASA career

After retiring from NASA and the United States Marine Corps in 2013, Zamka joined the Federal Aviation Administration as deputy director of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation. In this role, he oversaw the licensing and regulation of commercial launch vehicles. He later moved to the private sector, serving as vice president of programs and engineering at Virgin Galactic, where he worked on the development of the SpaceShipTwo program. He has also served as an advisor and consultant for various aerospace companies and organizations.

Personal life

Zamka is married and has children. An avid outdoorsman, his personal interests include mountaineering, skiing, and cycling. He has climbed major peaks such as Denali in Alaska and has been involved with organizations promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Awards and honors

Throughout his military and spaceflight career, Zamka has received numerous decorations. These include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He is also a recipient of the NASA Space Flight Medal (twice) and various other service and unit awards from the United States Marine Corps.