National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058
Biographical Data

CHRISTOPHER J. “GUS” LORIA (LIEUTENANT COLONEL, USMC)
ASTRONAUT, NASA FELLOW

PERSONAL DATA: Born July 9, 1960 in Belmont, Massachusetts. Considers League City, Texas, his hometown. He has three children. His mother, Joan Loria, resides in Belmont, Massachusetts. His father, Robert L. Loria, is deceased.

EDUCATION: Graduate of Belmont High School (1978), and the US Naval Academy Preparatory School (1979). Bachelor of science degree in general engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy (1983). Has 30 credits from Florida Institute of Technology towards completion of a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering. Master in Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (2004).

ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental Test Pilots, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Marine Corps Aviation Association, National Rifle Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year 1995-1996. Who’s Who in the World 1995, Who’s Who in the American West 1994. Graduated first in all phases of flight training, Commodore’s List with Distinction. Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Navy Commendation Medals (1 with “V”), 2 Air Medals (both with “V”), 4 Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Achievement Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Loria received his commission from the Naval Academy in 1983, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1988. He transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at Naval air Station Lemoore, California, during August 1988 through August 1989. His next assignment was with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) the “Black Knights” at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. While assigned to the Black Knights he deployed to Bahrain for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew 42 combat missions in support of allied operations. In 1992, while assigned as an instructor pilot to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) he was selected for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. January 1994 to July 1996, he was assigned to the Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, as an experimental test pilot. Loria distinguished himself in the areas of high angle of attack flight test, aircraft departure and spin testing, ordnance, flight controls and aircraft flying qualities testing for the F/A-18 Hornet, NASA F/A-18 ‘HARV’ thrust vectoring aircraft and the X-31A aircraft.

He has 3,079 hours of flight time and has flown over 35 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Previous NASA experience includes assignment as test pilot and Project Officer for the Department of the Navy on the X-31 Program at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards Air Force Base, California, from July 1994 to June 1995. Also test pilot on Dryden’s F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle or “HARV” during March of 1995, conducting spin testing and the first successful excitation of the Hornet Falling Leaf out of control mode during flight test. Lead Department of the Navy test pilot on the NASA/U.S. Navy/Industry Aircraft Control Power Working Group.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Loria reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Loria was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office as an Ascent and Entry CAPCOM. Assigned as pilot on STS-113, Loria requested reassignment due to an injury sustained at home and its subsequent impact on his mission training. From September 2002 through July 2003 he served as the Chief of Flight Test for the Orbital Space Plane Program. Selected by the NASA Headquarters Executive Development Education panel, Loria recently graduated from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, with a Masters in Public Administration.

JUNE 2004