Lunch and Learn is back\, and we're so exc ited to kick off this season with our special guest Commander John B. Herr ington. From the far reaches of outer space to the depths of the ocean\, C ommander Herrington has seen more of the universe than most people could e ven imagine! Join us for this Lunch and Learn as we discuss his career\, b eing a source of inspiration for the Chickasaw Nation\, his children's boo k "Mission to Space\," and everything in between.
\nCDR John B. Herr ington is a retired Naval Aviator\, test pilot\, aquanaut and astronaut. H e holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the Unive rsity of Colorado at Colorado Springs\, a Master of Science degree in Aero nautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a PhD in Educa tion from the University of Idaho.
\nAs an aviator\, he has flown ov er 5000 hours in more than 30 different types of aircraft. As an aquanaut\ , he commanded the sixth NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEM O) mission\, spending nearly 264 hours underwater.
\nAs an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma\, NASA considers CDR Herringto n to be the first citizen of a Federally recognized tribe to fly in space. As an astronaut\, CDR Herrington flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the 16th \;assembly mission to the International Space Station. Dur ing his mission he traveled over 5.6 million miles\, accumulating over 330 hours in space\, including performing three spacewalks totaling nearly 21 hours.
\nFollowing his retirement from the Navy and NASA\, CDR Herr ington worked in the commercial space sector before embarking on a 4\,300 mile bicycle ride across the United States\, from Cape Flattery\, WA to Ca pe Canaveral FL\, stopping at Indian reservations and NASA Explorer School s to share his story of motivation and mentorship with Native American you th. At age 52\, he entered the University of Idaho and earned a Doctorate in Education\, investigating the factors that motivate and engage Native A merican students to study science\, technology\, engineering and mathemati cs.
\nHe authored a children&rsquo\;s book\, \;Mission to Space& nbsp\;and is currently working on his personal memoir. He is married and t he proud father to two daughters and grandfather to four grandchildren. He resides in the mountains of Northwestern Montana with his wife Danielle\, their sled dog Emme and calico cat Ladybug.
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