Jonny Kim
NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander
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Summary
Lieutenant Commander (LCDR, U.S. Navy) Jonny Kim was selected by NASA in 2017. Kim is a dual designated Naval Aviator and Flight Surgeon, and as a former Navy SEAL has completed more than 100 combat operations. The California native was commissioned as a naval officer through an enlisted-to-officer program and earned his degree in mathematics at the University of San Diego and a doctorate of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He served as the International Space Station’s Increment Lead for Expedition 65 in 2021 and currently supports crew operations.
Personal
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California to Korean-American immigrants. Enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, outdoor activities, strength training, video games and learning new skills.
Education
Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, California. Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, summa cum laude, University of San Diego, San Diego, California. Doctorate of Medicine (M.D.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Medical internship, Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Experience
LCDR Kim enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman recruit after graduating high school in 2002. After completion of Hospital Corpsman “A” school training, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA. After completing his training at Naval Special Warfare, Kim reported to John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, NC for the Special Operations Combat Medic Course. He was assigned as a Special Warfare Operator to SEAL Team THREE Charlie Platoon in San Diego, California and obtained various qualifications including Military Freefall Parachutist, Advanced SCUBA, Combatant Diver (closed circuit rebreather), Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Scout and Sniper, and Advanced Special Operations Techniques. Kim served as a Special Operations Combat Medic, sniper, navigator and point man on more than 100 combat operations spanning two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2012, Petty Officer First Class Kim was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navy’s enlisted-to-officer commissioning program, Seaman to Admiral-21, following graduation from the University of San Diego. Kim obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his internship with Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Kim is a graduate of the Naval Flight Surgeon course at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. He completed Primary Flight Training at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, and helicopter Advanced Flight Training at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. Kim is an Aeromedical Dual Designator (AMDD), designated as a Naval Aviator and Naval Flight Surgeon.
NASA Experience
Kim reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. Training included technical and operational instruction in International Space Station systems, Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Operations, T-38 flight training, robotics, physiological training, expeditionary training, field geology, water and wilderness survival training, and Russian language proficiency training. In 2020, Kim began his support of International Space Station Operations as a Capsule Communicator (CapCom) in Mission Control Center Houston. He also served as the International Space Station’s Increment Lead for Expedition 65 in 2021. He currently supports crew operations as the operations officer.
Awards & Honors
Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Combat Action Ribbon and various campaign and service awards. Commodore’s List with Distinction, Naval Advanced Flight Training. Naval Special Warfare Medic of the Year, Special Operations Medical Association. Commandant’s List, Special Operations Combat Medic Course, Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC). SEAL Junior Sailor of the Quarter, SEAL Team THREE. Distinguished Honor Graduate, Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) “A” School. Tillman Scholar, Pat Tillman Foundation. Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Gamma Pi and Mortar Board Honor Societies.