14 Facts About David Leestma

David Cornell Leestma was born on May 6,1949 and is a former American astronaut and retired Captain in the United States Navy.

David Leestma was awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive Award in 1998 and again in 2004.

David Leestma completed United States Naval Flight Officer training and received his NFO wings in October 1973.

David Leestma was assigned to VF-124 in San Diego, California, for initial flight training in the F-14A Tomcat and then transferred to VF-32 in June 1974 and was stationed at Virginia Beach, Virginia.

David Leestma served as fleet model manager for the F-14A tactical manual.

David Leestma has logged over 3,500 hours of flight time, including nearly 1,500 hours in the F-14A.

David Leestma was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1980 and was the first member of NASA Astronaut Group 9 to go into space.

David Leestma was then assigned as the Chief, Mission Development Branch, responsible for assessing the operational integration requirements of payloads that will fly aboard the Space Shuttle.

From February 1990 to September 1991, when he started training for his third space mission, David Leestma served as deputy director of Flight Crew Operations.

David Leestma was selected as the Director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate, in November 1992.

David Leestma was responsible for the selection of Astronaut Groups 15,16 and 17.

In September 1998, David Leestma was reassigned as the deputy director, Engineering, in charge of the management of Johnson Space Center Government Furnished Equipment Projects.

David Leestma is currently serving as the Assistant Program Manager for the Orbital Space Plane Program, responsible for the vehicle systems and operations of the new crewed vehicle that is to serve as the transfer vehicle for space flight crews to and from the International Space Station.

David Leestma was a mission specialist on STS-41-G, STS-28, and STS-45.