Astronaut Rick Linnehan joins Texas A&M staff (temporary assignment)

Through a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration designed to reinvigorate space-related research critical to NASA's current and future mission, astronaut Rick Linnehan, DVM, MPA, has joined The Texas A&M University System research staff on temporary assignment as director for space science, policy and education.

As part of his assignment, Dr. Linnehan, who has logged more than 58 days in space, will work to develop space science initiatives within the A&M System targeting research in aerospace engineering, physics and biomedical performance-enhancing countermeasures associated with human spaceflight and exploration. A veterinarian trained in comparative pathophysiology, Dr. Linnehan also will work closely with researchers at the Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies to test and evaluate adaptive biological solutions in animal models to support advanced imaging, pharmacokinetics and the development of novel space flight countermeasures and associated technologies.

As an offshoot of NASA's science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiative to promote higher teacher and student education in these subjects, Dr. Linnehan's role also will include the collaborative development and implementation of primary, secondary and university-level curricula focused on the broad theme of space science. His initiatives will include creation of a space policy section at Texas A&M University's George Bush School of Government and Public Service and a space science lecture and visiting scholar series focused on the scientific research necessary to implement NASA's strategic vision.

"Dr Linnehan's unique experience as an astronaut and researcher will help crystallize our academic efforts to define our nation's future space policy, create the innovations to enable it, and train the next generation of technologists and explorers," said Dr. Brett Giroir, vice chancellor for research for the A&M System. "Rick is a true American hero and his story is enough to motivate students to achieve their goals."

After graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985, Dr. Linnehan entered private veterinary practice and was later accepted to a two-year joint internship in zoo animal medicine and comparative pathology at the Baltimore Zoo and The Johns Hopkins University. Following his internship he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, where he became chief clinical veterinarian for the U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program.

Selected by NASA in 1992, he completed the year-long astronaut candidate training qualifying him for space shuttle flight assignments as a mission specialist and flew his first mission in 1996 on STS-78, the Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab mission. A veteran of four space flights aboard space shuttles Columbia and Endeavour, including visits to the Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station, Dr. Linnehan's mission experience also includes six EVAs (spacewalks) totaling 42 hours and 11 minutes.

"As a NASA representative I am fortunate to be associated with the talented faculty, staff and students of the Texas A&M System," Dr. Linnehan said. "Texas A&M's close proximity to Johnson Space Center in Houston will allow for a mutually beneficial, cooperative effort aimed at reinvigorating key aspects of NASA's overall mission of human space exploration over the next several decades. This operational partnership will result in tangible economic and social benefits to the citizens of Texas via increased science literacy of our children and their ability to compete and excel in the increasingly competitive high-tech global job market. I am honored to be part of the A&M System team and look forward to establishing and contributing to broad-based initiatives in science education, biomedical research and technology development which will benefit the citizens of Texas and our national space program."