21 Facts About Anne McClain

Anne Charlotte McClain was born on June 7,1979 and is a Colonel in the US Army, engineer and a NASA astronaut.

Anne McClain's call sign, "Annimal", dates back to her rugby career; she uses the call sign in her Twitter handle, AstroAnnimal.

In 1997, Anne McClain graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane.

Anne McClain then attended the University of Bath, where she earned a master's degree in aerospace engineering in 2004, and the University of Bristol, where she earned a master's degree in international relations in 2005.

Anne McClain traveled to Africa for eight weeks with Operation Crossroads Africa, working on a construction project in Uganda.

Anne McClain is an avid rugby player who has played in the Women's Premiership, the top level of the sport in England, and for the United States women's national rugby union team, known as the Women's Eagles.

Anne McClain was deployed to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

Anne McClain rose through the ranks, starting as an Air Traffic Control Platoon Leader, Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Platoon Leader, to Detachment Commander.

Anne McClain was deployed to the Persian Gulf and flew 800 hours and 216 combat missions during the 15 months deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2009, Anne McClain participated in 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.

Anne McClain completed Command and General Staff College and the C-12 fixed wing multiengine qualification courses in 2011 and 2012.

Anne McClain graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School in June 2013.

In total, Anne McClain has logged over 2,000 hours on various aircraft type including the Kiowa Warrior, the Beechcraft C-12 Huron, the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, and the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota.

In June 2013, the same month as her graduation as a test pilot, Anne McClain was selected by NASA as part of Astronaut Group 21, becoming the youngest astronaut on the NASA roster, at 34 years old.

Anne McClain completed training in July 2015, making her available for future missions.

Anne McClain flew to the International Space Station in December 2018 and returned to Earth in June 2019.

On December 9,2020, Anne McClain was announced as one of NASA's Artemis astronauts.

Anne McClain was selected as commander for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station alongside pilot Nichole Ayers and mission specialists Takuya Onishi and Kirill Peskov.

Anne McClain is a recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with Valor device, two additional Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and three Overseas Service Ribbons.

Anne McClain has received a honorary Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Bath.

Anne McClain married Summer Worden in 2014 and became stepmother to Worden's son.