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A 1987 Naval Academy graduate, Capt. Sunita Williams is a NASA astronaut. Designated a naval aviator in 1989, she served at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 8 in Norfolk, Virginia, and made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort. In 1992, she was the officer-in-charge of an H-46 detachment sent to Miami, Florida, for Hurricane Andrew Relief Operations aboard USS Sylvania (AFS 2). She was selected for Naval Test Pilot School and, after graduating in 1993, she flew in several types of aircraft and was assigned several leadership roles. She then was assigned to USS Saipan (LHA 2) as the aircraft handler and the assistant air boss. She has logged more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. Williams, who has spent a total of 322 days in space on two missions, and second all-time for a woman astronaut. In 2012, she became the first person to complete a triathlon in space. She also ran the Boston Marathon in Space.
Last Updated: 29 March 2023
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