John S. Herrington

John S. Herrington is a retired United States Navy officer, NASA astronaut, and the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space. Selected as a mission specialist in 1996, he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-113, a crucial assembly flight to the International Space Station. Following his NASA career, he has been an advocate for STEM education, particularly within Indigenous communities, and has served in executive roles within the aerospace and energy sectors.

Early life and education

John Bennett Herrington was born in Wetumka, Oklahoma, and is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. He spent much of his youth in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Riverton, Wyoming. Herrington attended the University of Colorado Colorado Springs before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics in 1983. He later received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in 1995.

Military service

Herrington was commissioned through the Aviation Officer Candidate School and designated a Naval Aviator in 1985. He flew the P-3 Orion with Patrol Squadron Forty-Eight (VP-48), completing deployments to Adak, Alaska, and Cubi Point, Philippines. He was selected for the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, graduating with Class 101 in 1990. As a test pilot and project officer, he worked on various aircraft, including the P-3 Orion, Dash 7, and Shorts C-23A.

NASA career

Selected by NASA in April 1996 as part of the 16th group of astronauts, Herrington reported to the Johnson Space Center for training. He served in technical roles within the Astronaut Office, including as a member of the Space Station Operations Branch. His only spaceflight was as a mission specialist on STS-113 (November 23 – December 7, 2002) aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission delivered the P1 Truss segment to the International Space Station and exchanged the Expedition 5 and Expedition 6 crew members. Herrington performed three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 55 minutes with fellow astronaut Michael López-Alegría.

Post-NASA career

After leaving NASA and retiring from the United States Navy with the rank of Commander in 2005, Herrington pursued a career in the private sector. He served as Vice President of Flight Operations for Rocketplane Global, Inc., an aerospace firm. He later joined the executive team of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and has been a prominent speaker and advocate for increasing Native American participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. He also worked as a consultant in the renewable energy sector.

Personal life

Herrington is married and has two children. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys mountaineering, cycling, and flying. He remains actively involved with the Chickasaw Nation, frequently participating in cultural and educational outreach programs. In 2019, he embarked on a "Rocket Tour," cycling over 4,000 miles from Chickasaw lands in Oklahoma to Seattle, Washington, to promote his memoir and inspire students in STEM.

Awards and honors

Herrington's decorations include the NASA Space Flight Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and various service awards. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame and the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. In 2019, he received the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy from the Aero Club of Washington for his contributions to aerospace. Educational institutions, including the University of Colorado Boulder, have also recognized his achievements.