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Terry Virts
Terry Wayne Virts Jr. (born December 1, 1967) is a retired NASA astronaut, International Space Station commander, and colonel in the United States Air Force. Virts is a member of the Democratic Party. He was a candidate in the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas and later ran for Texas's 9th congressional district, but withdrew from the former and was eliminated in the primary for the latter.
Virts was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in Columbia, Maryland. He graduated from Oakland Mills High School in 1985. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics (with a French minor) from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997. While at the Air Force Academy, Virts attended the École de l'Air in 1988 on an exchange program. While at NASA he completed a General Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2011.
Virts was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He completed basic fighter lead-in training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico followed by formal training in the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
He was then assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. After Hurricane Andrew struck southern Florida in 1992, his squadron was moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. He was later assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
Virts was selected for test pilot school in 1997 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Following graduation, he was an experimental test pilot at the F-16 Combined Test Force at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. He has logged more than 5,300 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.
Virts's NASA career spanned several pivotal roles and space missions. In 2000, Virts was selected as a Space Shuttle pilot by NASA. His career was marked by a series of important technical assignments and mission roles.
One of his notable assignments was serving as the lead astronaut for the NASA T-38 program, where he contributed to the training and preparation of fellow astronauts. Virts also played a crucial role as a member of the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) test crew, participating in critical systems testing and integration efforts.
In 2004, Virts supported Expedition 9 as a crew support astronaut, providing valuable assistance to the mission's crew members. Additionally, he took on the role of a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), acting as a vital link between ground control and astronauts in space.
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Terry Virts
Terry Wayne Virts Jr. (born December 1, 1967) is a retired NASA astronaut, International Space Station commander, and colonel in the United States Air Force. Virts is a member of the Democratic Party. He was a candidate in the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas and later ran for Texas's 9th congressional district, but withdrew from the former and was eliminated in the primary for the latter.
Virts was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in Columbia, Maryland. He graduated from Oakland Mills High School in 1985. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics (with a French minor) from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997. While at the Air Force Academy, Virts attended the École de l'Air in 1988 on an exchange program. While at NASA he completed a General Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2011.
Virts was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989 and earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He completed basic fighter lead-in training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico followed by formal training in the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
He was then assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. After Hurricane Andrew struck southern Florida in 1992, his squadron was moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. He was later assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
Virts was selected for test pilot school in 1997 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Following graduation, he was an experimental test pilot at the F-16 Combined Test Force at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. He has logged more than 5,300 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.
Virts's NASA career spanned several pivotal roles and space missions. In 2000, Virts was selected as a Space Shuttle pilot by NASA. His career was marked by a series of important technical assignments and mission roles.
One of his notable assignments was serving as the lead astronaut for the NASA T-38 program, where he contributed to the training and preparation of fellow astronauts. Virts also played a crucial role as a member of the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) test crew, participating in critical systems testing and integration efforts.
In 2004, Virts supported Expedition 9 as a crew support astronaut, providing valuable assistance to the mission's crew members. Additionally, he took on the role of a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), acting as a vital link between ground control and astronauts in space.