Gregory Reid Wiseman.Gregory Reid Wiseman (OG)
Gregory Reid Wiseman, born on November 11, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a distinguished astronaut, engineer, and naval officer. Inspired by early experiences watching the US Navy Blue Angels, he pursued a career in aviation after initially being denied admission to the Naval Academy. Wiseman graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1997 with a degree in computer and systems engineering and went on to complete naval flight training, becoming a naval aviator in 1999. His military career included significant deployments in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, and he later attended the US Naval Test Pilot School.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009, Wiseman served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station during Expedition 40/41, where he participated in multiple spacewalks and extensive scientific research. In December 2020, he became NASA's chief of the Astronaut Office and was later appointed as crew commander for the Artemis II mission, a significant step in lunar exploration. Wiseman's career is marked by numerous awards and accolades, reflecting his contributions to both the Navy and NASA, as well as his impact on future space missions. He is also a family man, having two children with his late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman.
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Gregory Reid Wiseman
- Born: November 11, 1975
- Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland
Background
Astronaut Gregory Reid Wiseman was born on November 11, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents Judy and Bill Wiseman. His older brother, Bill Wiseman, would serve as a Navy SEAL. Wiseman grew up in Baltimore and its surrounding areas, attending Dulaney High School in Timonium. As a child, Wiseman and his family often traveled to watch US Navy Blue Angels shows, which inspired him to pursue flying as a career.
After graduating from Dulaney in 1993, Wiseman hoped to attend the Navy Academy. When his application to the Naval Academy was denied, he instead studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer and systems engineering in 1997. While studying at Rensselaer, he was part of the college’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program and decided to continue with his career in the military after graduation. In 1997, he was relocated to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He graduated from his initial training in 1999, after which he was designated a naval aviator.
Life’s Work
As a naval aviator, Wiseman was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 at the Naval Air Station Oceana, in Virginia. He was then moved to Fighter Squadron 31, also based at the Naval Air Station Oceana. Wiseman then deployed twice, supporting larger operations in the Middle East. These included Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
In 2003, during Wiseman’s second deployment, he was tagged to attend the US Naval Test Pilot School. This program specializes in training experienced military pilots in the complex processes associated with aircraft systems testing. It is also the only US military test pilot school to offer instruction on flying rotary wing aircraft. Wiseman graduated from the program in June 2004, as part of the school’s 125th class.
Wiseman was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three at the Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Maryland, as a test pilot and project officer. He studied systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, eventually graduating with a master of science degree in 2006.
In addition to his continued education, Wiseman spent his time as a test pilot working on a wide variety of testing programs for the Navy. These included programs focusing on the T-45 Goshawk, the F-35 Lightning II, and weapons programs from the F-18. Wiseman was then transferred to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, where he was appointed strike operations officer.
Wiseman and the rest of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen deployed around South America. Wiseman distinguished himself in his duties during these operations and was transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 103 at Naval Air Station Oceana. In this role, he was responsible for flying the FA-18F Super Hornet.
The pilot continued to impress his superiors in the Navy. Throughout his career, he was awarded the Air Medal with Combat V, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V, and numerous other awards. While still at sea during a deployment, Wiseman applied to be part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s astronaut program. On June 29, 2009, NASA announced that Wiseman and eight others had been selected from more than 3,500 applicants to begin astronaut training.
Wiseman began training at the Johnson Space Center in August 2009 as part of NASA’s twentieth class of astronauts. He completed the program in May 2011 before serving as flight engineer during Expedition 40/41 to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission lasted from May 29, 2014, through November 9, 2014. His expedition included two space walks and hundreds of scientific experiments. The crew of Expedition 40/41 completed a record eighty-two hours of research in a single week during July 2014.
On December 18, 2020, Wiseman was selected to replace Patrick Forrester as NASA’s chief of the Astronaut Office. Wiseman had previously served as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office. He remained chief until November 14, 2022, when he stepped down to return to active flight duty.
On April 3, 2023, NASA announced that Wiseman was selected as crew commander for its upcoming Artemis II mission. This mission planned to send four astronauts to pass by the moon while traveling in the Orion spacecraft. NASA considered the mission its first step in developing a long-term, sustainable presence on the moon in preparation for its future missions to Mars.
Impact
Wiseman has proven to be an accomplished engineer, pilot, naval officer, and astronaut. He has served both the US Navy and NASA in various capacities throughout his career. He was deployed in support of three major military operations in the Middle East, in addition to a deployment near South Africa. He has received numerous campaign and service awards for his work with the Navy. His selection as a member of the Artemis II crew made him part of a mission viewed as historic, as astronauts had not flown to the moon since 1972.
Personal Life
Wiseman was married to Carroll Taylor Wiseman, who died in 2020, following a long battle with cancer. The couple had two children together.
Bibliography
Pitts, Jonathan M. “Astronaut Reid Wiseman Returns to Baltimore, Regaling Students and Grownups with Space Station Tales.” The Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2019, www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-astronaut-wiseman-20150211-story.html. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
“Reid Wiseman.” NASA, www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/g-reid-wiseman/biography. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
Sauers, Elisha. “NASA’s Artemis 2 Commander Reid Wiseman Isn’t Perfect.” Mashable, 8 Apr. 2023, mashable.com/article/nasa-artemis-2-moon-commander-reid-wiseman/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
Wiseman, Reid. “Meet the Houstonian Commanding NASA’s Historic Return to the Moon.” Interview by Steven Devadanam. CultureMap, 5 Apr. 2023, houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/artemis-ii-reid-wiseman/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.
Wiseman, Reid. "Reid Wiseman Reflects on His Journey from RPI to Commanding Artemis II Mission." Interview by John Wen. Rensselaer, 13 Aug. 2024, ecse.rpi.edu/news/reid-wiseman. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.