| Christopher John Cassidy | |
|---|---|
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| Astronaut | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 4, 1970 Salem, Massachusetts |
| Other occupation | Astronaut |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy |
| Selection | 2004 NASA Group |
| Missions | |
Christopher John "Chris" Cassidy (born January 4, 1970, Salem, Massachusetts, United States) is a NASA astronaut and former U.S. Navy SEAL.
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Births and education
Born January 4, 1970 in Salem, Massachusetts, he considers York, Maine, to be his hometown. Cassidy attended York High School, in York, Maine. He then graduated from the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1989. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993 and a Master's degree in Ocean engineering, from MIT in 2000. He is married to Julie Byrd and has three children.
Military experience
Cassidy graduated as a Navy SEAL in BUD/S Class 192. He served for ten years as a member of the U.S. Navy SEALs. His specialization in military tactics include long range special reconnaissance (vehicular and foot patrols), direct action building assaults, non-compliant ship-boardings, desert reconnaissance patrols, combat diving, underwater explosives, and a variety of air operations, to include parachuting, fast roping, and rappelling. He made four six-month deployments: two to Afghanistan, and two to the Mediterranean. Cassidy served as Executive Officer and Operations Officer of Special Boat Team Twenty in Norfolk, Virginia, and SEAL Platoon Commander at SEAL Team THREE in Coronado, California. He deployed to the Afghanistan region two weeks after September 11, 2001. He served as Ground Assault Force Commander for international and U.S. only combat missions in Afghanistan. Led two months of non-compliant ship-boardings in the Northern Persian Gulf. Cassidy was also a SEAL Delivery Vehicle Platoon Commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO in Norfolk, VA. He accumulated over 200 hours underwater as Pilot / Navigator / Mission Commander of a 2-man flooded submersible (SDV), which is launched and recovered from a host-ship submarine. He also served as Dry Deck Shelter Platoon Commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO in Norfolk, VA. Cassidy volunteered for and completed a week-long, 180-mile charity kayak paddle from Norfolk, VA to Washington, D.C. to raise money and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Astronaut experience
Cassidy was selected by NASA in May 2004. In February 2006 he completed the Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Space Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Completion of this initial training qualifies him for various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office and future flight assignment as a mission specialist.
Awards and honors
Honor graduate of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 192. He was awarded the Bronze Star with V device and the Presidential Unit Citation for leading a 9-day operation at the Zharwar Kili cave complex – a national priority objective directly on the Afghan/Pakistan border during Operation Enduring Freedom. Guest speaker at the USNA Combat Leadership Seminar (2003 & 2004). He was awarded a second Bronze Star for combat leadership service in 2004 during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
References
This article contains material that originally came from a NASA website. According to their site usage guidelines, "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". For more information, please review NASA's use guidelines.
