A 2010 Naval Academy graduate, Lt. Cmdr. Kayla Barron became one of the first women to qualify as a submarine officer aboard USS Maine (SSBN 741). Barron was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. She reported to NASA in 2017 and completed the initial astronaut candidate training, and served as mission specialist of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station, which took her to space for 176 days. She is the fifth woman who graduated from the Naval Academy to be selected as an astronaut candidate.

Last Updated: 29 March 2023