John Herrington | |
|---|---|
 Herrington in 2002 | |
| Born | John Bennett Herrington (1958-09-14)September 14, 1958 (age 67) |
| Education | BA:University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, MS:Naval Postgraduate School, PhD:University of Idaho (2014) |
| Awards | Chickasaw Hall of Fame (2002)[3] |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Commander,USN[1] |
Time in space | 13d 18h 47m[2] |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Missions | STS-113 |
Mission insignia |  |
John Bennett Herrington (Chickasaw Nation,[3] born September 14, 1958) is a retiredUnited States Naval Aviator,engineer and formerNASAastronaut. In 2002, Herrington became the first enrolled citizen of aNative American tribe to fly in space.[note 1]
Herrington was born inWetumka, Oklahoma, into the Chickasaw Nation. He grew up inColorado Springs, Colorado,Riverton, Wyoming, andPlano, Texas, where he graduated fromPlano Senior High School. After moving to Colorado to pursue a degree, he developed an interest in rock climbing in the Colorado mountains.[4] He earned abachelor's degree inapplied mathematics from theUniversity of Colorado Colorado Springs before receiving his commission in the United States Navy in 1984.
To honor hisChickasaw heritage, Herrington, an enrolled citizen of theChickasaw Nation, carried its flag on his thirteen-day trip to space. The flag had been presented to him by Chickasaw Nation GovernorBill Anoatubby.[3]
In 2014, he earned his PhD in education from theUniversity of Idaho.[5]
Herrington received his commission in the U.S. Navy from the Aviation Officer Candidate School atNaval Air Station Pensacola,Florida in March 1984. In March 1985 he was designated a Naval Aviator and proceeded to Patrol Squadron Thirty-One (VP-31) atMoffett Field,California for training in theP-3C Orion. His first operational assignment was with Patrol Squadron Forty-Eight (VP-48) where he made three operational deployments, two to the Northern Pacific-based fromNaval Air Facility Adak,Alaska and one to the Western Pacific-based from theNaval Air Station Cubi Point,Philippines. While assigned to VP-48, Herrington was designated a Patrol Plane Commander, Mission Commander, and Patrol Plane Instructor Pilot.
Following completion of his first operational tour, Herrington returned to VP-31 as aFleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot. While assigned to VP-31, he was selected to attend theUnited States Naval Test Pilot School atNaval Air Station Patuxent River,Maryland in January 1990. After graduation in December 1990, he reported to the Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate as a projecttest pilot for theJoint Primary Aircraft Training System. Herrington conducted additional flight test assignments flying numerous variants of the P-3 Orion as well as theT-34C and thede Havilland Canada Dash 7. Following his selection as an Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO), Herrington reported to the U.S.Naval Postgraduate School, where he attained a Master of Science degree inaeronautical engineering in June 1995. Herrington was assigned as a special projects officer to theBureau of Naval Personnel Sea Duty Component when selected for the astronaut program.
During his military service, he was awarded theNavy Commendation Medal,Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation,Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation,Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon,National Defense Service Medal,Sea Service Ribbons (3), and various other service awards.
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Herrington reported to theLyndon B. Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Herrington was assigned to the Flight Support Branch of theAstronaut Office where he served as a member of the Astronaut Support Personnel team responsible for Shuttle launch preparations and post-landing operations.
Herrington was selected as a mission specialist for STS-113, the sixteenthSpace Shuttle mission to theInternational Space Station.Endeavour was launched fromKennedy Space Center on November 23, 2002, to deliver theP1 Truss segment, which provides structural support for the Space Station radiators.Endeavour also delivered a newExpedition 6 crew to the Station, returning to Earth on December 7, 2002, with theExpedition 5 crew ending their 6-month stay in space. The total mission duration was 13 days, 18 hours and 47 minutes.
During the mission Herrington performed threespacewalks, totaling 19 hours and 55 minutes. These spacewalks are commemorated on the reverse of the 2019Sacagawea dollar coin.[6]
In July 2004, Herrington served as the commander of theNEEMO 6 mission aboard theAquariusunderwater laboratory, living and working underwater for ten days.[7]
Herrington retired from the Navy and NASA in July 2005.
In September 2005, Herrington resigned from NASA to become Vice President/Director of flight Operations forRocketplane Limited, Inc., where he replaced Mitchell Burnside Clapp. He was also to serve as the pilot of theXP Spaceplane. Herrington also provides part-time support for the Center for Space Studies at theUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
In December 2007, Herrington resigned from Rocketplane, and stated that he plans to continue doing public speaking engagements as well as work with the Chickasaw Nation.[8]
In 2008, Herrington embarked on a cross-country bicycle ride through the United States fromCape Flattery, Washington, toCape Canaveral, Florida. The ride took three months, from August 13 to November 15, 2008.[9]
Herrington was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2002.[3] In 2017, Herrington was inducted into theInternational Air & Space Hall of Fame at theSan Diego Air & Space Museum.[10] In 2018, he became one of the inductees in the first induction ceremony held by the National Native American Hall of Fame.[11]
In 2016 Herrington authored a children's book calledMission to Space published by White Dog Press, a secondary imprint of Chickasaw Press. In the book, Herrington shares his passion for space travel and provides a glimpse into his astronaut training and mission to the International Space Station. The book includes an English to Chickasaw vocabulary list with space-related terms.[12]
Herrington currently travels the nation speaking to students, educators, nonprofits and corporations on an array of topics originating from his unique background in STEM and aviation.[13] He is managed byKey Speakers Bureau.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromJOHN BENNETT HERRINGTON(PDF). NASA. RetrievedMarch 12, 2021.
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