Astronaut Biography: Kenneth T. Ham

NAME: Kenneth Ham
Commander, USN
NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Born December 12, 1964 in Plainfield, New Jersey. Two children, Ryan and Randy. He is married to Michelle Ham ( n?e Lucas) from Hobart, Indiana. His parents, Ed and Marion Ham, reside in Brunswick, Maine. Recreational interests include running, weight lifting, all sports, general aviation, snow and water skiing, and sky and scuba diving.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, Clark, New Jersey, in 1983. Bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, 1987. Master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, 1996.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental Test Pilots, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: Distinguished Graduate U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

EXPERIENCE: Ken received his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy from the United States Naval Academy in May 1987. He was temporarily assigned to the NASA-JSC zero-g office at Ellington Field, Houston where he flew as a crew member on the NASA zero-g research aircraft.

He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1989 after completing flight training in the T-34C, T-2C, and TA-4J aircraft at NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Beeville, Texas. Ken reported to NAS Cecil Field, Florida for F/A-18 training and subsequent operational assignments with the Privateers of VFA-132 and the Gunslingers of VFA-105.

He completed two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea including combat missions over North Iraq and Bosnia. During these tours, he served as an air wing strike leader, F/A-18 demonstration pilot, and night vision goggle instructor. Ken was selected for the Naval Postgraduate School/Test Pilot School cooperative program where he studied aeronautical engineering for 18 months in Monterey California followed by 12 months of test pilot training at NAS Patuxent River Maryland.

He was selected as a team member of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Integrated Test Team as one of five Navy pilots responsible for developing a new fleet aircraft. This duty involved envelope expansion flight test in arrested landings, catapult assisted takeoffs, weapon separation, propulsion stability, performance, and general flying qualities. Ken was serving as the F/A-18E/F lead carrier suitability test pilot when he was selected for the astronaut program.

He has logged over 3,700 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft and has over 300 shipboard, and 300 land based arrested landings.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut Candidate Training includes orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Initially assigned as Ascent/Entry, Orbit, and ISS Capcom, Ken is assigned as pilot on the crew of STS-124. The STS-124 mission to the International Space Station will be the second of three flights that will launch components to complete the Japanese "Kibo" laboratory. Launch is targeted for May 2008.

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