Astronaut Biography: Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr.

By NASA Archives
published

Astronaut Biography: Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr.
NASA astronaut Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr, who goes by his middle name, poses for a mission specialist portrait. (Image credit: NASA)

NAME:Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr. (Colonel, U.S. Air Force)
NASA Astronaut

PERSONALDATA: BornNovember 5, 1962 in Washington, DC. Single. His parents, Muriel and BenjaminDrew, Sr., reside in Fort Washington, Maryland.

EDUCATION:
1980 High School Diploma from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC.
1984 Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the United StatesAir Force Academy.
1984 Bachelor of Science in Physics from the United States Air Force Academy.
1995 Master of Aerospace Science from Embry Riddle University.
2006 Master of Strategic Studies in Political Science from the United StatesAir Force Air University.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental TestPilots, American Helicopter Society.

EXPERIENCE: Drew received his commission as aSecond Lieutenant from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1984. Hecompleted Undergraduate Pilot Training - Helicopter at Fort Rucker, Alabama andearned his wings in March 1985.

His initialassignment was to the HH-3E flying combat rescue. He transitioned to the MH-60Gand was assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command. There, he flewcombat missions in operations JUST CAUSE, DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM andPROVIDE COMFORT. He completed USAF Fixed-Wing Qualification in April 1993, andthe United States Naval Test Pilot School in June 1994. He has commanded twoflight test units and served on Air Combat Command Staff. He is a Command Pilotwith 3000 hours flying time in over 30 types of aircraft.

NASAEXPERIENCE: Selectedas a mission specialist by NASA in July 2000, Drew reported for training inAugust 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation,he was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station OperationsBranch. He is currently assigned to the crewof STS-118. Launch is targeted for August 7, 2007.

LastUpdated: July 2007

  • NASA Announces Astronaut Class of 2000
  • NASA's STS-118: Teaching the Future Through ISS Assembly
  • SPACE.com VIDEO Interplayer: Space Station Construction with STS-117
  • Complete Space Shuttle Mission Coverage

 

 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

NASA Archives
NASA Archives
U.S. Space Agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.