Anne C. McClain

Summary

Anne C. McClain was selected by NASA in 2013.  The Spokane, Washington native earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from West Point.  A 2002 Marshall Scholar, McClain earned a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Bath in Bath, England and a Master of Science in International Relations from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England.  Lieutenant Colonel McClain, a Senior Army Aviator, has more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different aircraft.  She is an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot and instructor pilot, and a rated pilot in the C-12 Huron (King Air), UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota.  McClain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 58 and 59.

Colonel McClain is a Senior Army Aviator and has logged more than 2,000 flight hours in 20 different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.  She is a rated pilot and instructor pilot in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and a rated pilot in the C-12 Huron (King Air), UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota.

Personal

Born and raised in Spokane, Washington. McClain’s mother and stepfather are Don and Charlotte Lamp and stepmother is Mari Ann McClain, father is the late James McClain, all of Spokane, WA. She enjoys weightlifting, rugby, golf, biking, crossfit and running.

Education

Graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington, in 1997. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002. A 2002 Marshall Scholar, earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Bath in Bath, England in 2004. Earned a Master of Science in International Relations from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England in 2005.

Experience

McClain was commissioned as an Army officer in 2002 and immediately attended graduate school. Her studies at the University of Bath focused on the unsteady aerodynamics and flow visualization of free-to-roll nonslender delta wings and her research was later published through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). She concurrently researched the security burden in developing countries at nearby University of Bristol. Following graduate school, McClain earned her wings as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout/attack helicopter pilot. She began her operational flying career with 2nd Battalion, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii as an Air Traffic Control Platoon Leader, Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Platoon Leader, then later Detachment Commander. She served 15 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying more than 800 combat hours on 216 combat missions as pilot-in-command and Air Mission Commander. In 2009, she attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course and was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker as the battalion operations officer and OH-58D instructor. In May 2010, she was appointed Commander of C Troop, 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, responsible for the Army’s initial entry training, instructor pilot training, and maintenance test pilot training in the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. She completed Command and General Staff College and the C-12 fixed wing multiengine qualification courses in 2011 and 2012. She then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, graduating with Class 143 in June 2013 at the same time she was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate.

NASA Experience

McClain was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class.  Her candidate training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.  She completed astronaut candidate training in July 2015.

Anne McClain most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 58 and 59.  She is an Instructor Astronaut for Robotics, EVA, and CAPCOM.

Spaceflight Experience

Expedition 58/59 (December 3, 2018 through June 24, 2019).  The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft.  McClain, who served as Flight Engineer and US Orbital Segment Lead, was joined by CSA Astronaut David Saint-Jacques, as well as Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko.  The Expedition 59 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science, including investigations into small devices that replicate the structure and function of human organs, editing DNA in space for the first time and recycling 3D-printed material.  McClain was lead spacewalker on two spacewalks, totaling 13 hours and 8 minutes on her mission into space. She has spent a total of 204 days in space.

Awards/Honors

Army awards include a Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with Valor, two Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and three Overseas Service Ribbons.  Awarded the NASA Spaceflight Medal.  Military devices include the Combat Action Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Badge.  Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College ILE (2011).  Distinguished Honor Graduate from the Army’s Captains Career Course (2009).  Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing School (2006).  Graduated with distinction from the University of Bristol (2005).  Marshall Scholarship (2002).  Dennis Hart Mahan Memorial Award for excellence in Aeronautical Engineering (2002).  National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-American Scholar-Athlete (1999 to 2002). USA Rugby Women’s National Team (2004 to 2006, 2010).  Captain of USA Rugby South Women’s XV All-Stars (2010).

Organizations

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Alumni Association, Women Military Aviators, Association of Marshall Scholars, U.S. Military Academy Association of Graduates.

McClain, Anne C. (PDF 376 KB)