John Herrington (astronaut)

John Herrington (astronaut)
Name	John Herrington
Birth name	John Bennett Herrington
Birth date	14 September 1958
Birth place	Wetumka, Oklahoma, United States
Nationality	United States
Alma mater	University of Colorado Boulder; U.S. Navy Test Pilot School
Occupation	Naval aviator, test pilot, NASA astronaut
Awards	NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

John Herrington (astronaut) was an American Naval aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut notable for being the first enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation to fly in space. He flew on the Space Shuttle mission STS-113, contributed to International Space Station assembly, and after retiring from NASA engaged in advocacy for STEM and Indigenous technical education. Herrington's career links U.S. Navy aviation, Naval Air Station operations, aerospace flight testing, and tribal outreach.

Early life and education

Herrington was born in Wetumka, Oklahoma and raised in Eufaula, Oklahoma, where he attended local schools before matriculating at the University of Colorado Boulder to study chemical engineering and later University of Colorado programs. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate coursework while participating in Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps pipelines and commissioning programs tied to United States Navy officer education. During his early development he engaged with regional institutions such as Oklahoma State University outreach, tribal education initiatives by the Chickasaw Nation, and national programs associated with Boy Scouts of America and National Science Foundation activities for Native American students.

Naval career and flight experience

Herrington began active service with the United States Navy as a commissioned officer assigned to Naval Air Station squadrons flying the F/A-18 Hornet. He completed Flight training with units linked to Naval Air Training Command and served aboard aircraft carriers including deployments related to Carrier Strike Group operations in support of United States Pacific Command missions. Selected for advanced instruction, Herrington attended the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, performing flight test programs for Naval Air Systems Command and working with manufacturers such as McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. His test pilot experience included high-performance flight envelopes, avionics integration projects with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and carrier suitability trials for tactical aircraft.

NASA career and STS-113 mission

Selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in a class that trained at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Herrington completed astronaut training and served in technical assignments supporting Space Shuttle operations, International Space Station systems, and mission planning with teams at Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center. He was a mission specialist on STS-113, launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, which conducted assembly flight operations to deliver and install the P1 Truss on the International Space Station. During STS-113 Herrington participated in multiple extravehicular activitys coordinated by Mission Control Center and worked alongside crewmembers from agencies including Russian Federal Space Agency partners and international contributors such as Canadian Space Agency astronauts. The mission involved rendezvous and docking procedures, transfer of science hardware between Orbital Replacement Unit racks, and crew rotation activities with Expedition 6 and Expedition 7 station personnel.

Post-NASA activities and advocacy

After retiring from active flight status, Herrington engaged in outreach and advocacy linking Indigenous communities, technical education, and aerospace industry programs. He has worked with the Chickasaw Nation on STEM workforce development initiatives, partnered with organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution and National Aeronautics and Space Administration educational offices to promote science and engineering among Native American youth, and contributed to advisory boards involving United States Department of Education outreach and National Science Foundation grant efforts. Herrington has participated in public speaking at venues including Air Force Association conferences, National Space Society symposia, and tribal leadership forums, emphasizing pathways from secondary school to careers at institutions like NASA Glenn Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Awards and honors

Herrington's recognitions include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, naval commendations from the Department of the Navy, honors from the Chickasaw Nation, and selections for distinction by civic institutions including the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and regional science organizations. He has been featured by media outlets such as National Public Radio, PBS, and Smithsonian Channel for his historic role, and received awards from educational groups and foundations focused on Indigenous achievement and STEM, collaborating with entities like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the American Astronautical Society.

Personal life and Chickasaw heritage

Herrington is an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and has integrated cultural heritage into public engagement, participating in tribal events, traditional ceremonies, and cultural education programs sponsored by the Chickasaw Cultural Center. He resides in Oklahoma while maintaining professional ties to facilities such as the Johnson Space Center and regional aerospace employers, and supports scholarships and mentorship programs connecting students from tribes including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation, and Seminole Nation of Oklahoma with internships at institutions like NASA Ames Research Center and Sandia National Laboratories.

Category:American astronauts Category:Chickasaw people Category:United States Naval Aviators