Barry Wilmore Complete Biography

Barry Wilmore Biography

Full Name: Barry Eugene Wilmore
Nickname: Butch
Birth Date: December 29, 1962
Birthplace: Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Occupation: NASA Astronaut, Test Pilot, Engineer
Rank: Captain, United States Navy (Retired)

Early Life and Education

Born and raised in Tennessee, Barry Wilmore showed an early passion for aviation and engineering.

Graduated from Mt. Juliet High School, Tennessee.

Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University.

Completed a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee.

Military Career

Joined the United States Navy and became a naval aviator.

Logged over 7,000 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft.

Flew 21 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm.

Graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School, becoming a test pilot and instructor.

NASA Career

Selected as a NASA astronaut in July 2000.

First spaceflight: STS-129 (Space Shuttle Atlantis) in 2009, where he served as a pilot.

Spent over 10 days in space, delivering critical spare parts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Second spaceflight: Expedition 41/42 (Soyuz TMA-14M) in 2014, where he served as Flight Engineer and later Commander of the ISS.

Logged a total of 178 days in space over two missions.

Recent Mission

Recently completed a nine-month mission aboard the ISS, returning to Earth aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon on March 18, 2025.

The mission was extended due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

Accompanied by Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Achievements and Honors

Navy Commendation Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal

NASA Space Flight Medal

Awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for his exemplary contributions.

Personal Life

Married and two children

Enjoys running, weightlifting, and coaching youth sports.

Known for his dedication to both military and space exploration.

Interesting Facts

Holds the record for one of the longest cumulative stays aboard the ISS.

His calm and composed leadership during the extended mission earned him widespread respect.

A passionate advocate for STEM education and often speaks at public events.

Negative Points

Faced criticism during the prolonged mission for delays and technical issues with the spacecraft, though these were not attributed to his personal performance.

Some debates arose over the safety protocols followed during the extended stay.