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Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas 77058

Scott D. Tingle (NASA Photo jsc2009e156449.html)

Biographical Data


SCOTT D. TINGLE (commander, usn)
NASA Astronaut CandidatE

PERSONAL DATA:  Born 1965 in Attleboro, Massachusetts but considers his hometown to be Randolph, Massachusetts.  Married to the former Raynette Mahelona of Kailua, Hawaii.  They have three children. 

EDUCATION:  Graduated from Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical High School, Canton, Massachusetts in 1983.  Earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1987.  Earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Fluid Mechanics and Propulsion from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1988.

ORGANIZATIONS:  Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Experimental Aircraft Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tailhook Association, U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Alumni Association, Purdue University Alumni Association, University of Massachusetts Alumni Association, Save the Children.

SPECIAL HONORS:  Awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals to include a Combat V, four Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals and various unit commendations.  Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southeastern Massachusetts University.  Outstanding Graduate of U.S. Navy Test Pilot School Class 113.

EXPERIENCE:  Following graduate school, Scott spent three years with the Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California as a member of technical staff in their Propulsion Department.  He was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1991 and earned his wings of gold as a Naval Aviator in 1993.  He began his operational flying career in 1994 with the Blue Diamonds of VFA-146 based from Lemoore, California.  He deployed to the Western Pacific and North Arabian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard USS Nimitz.  Following graduation from Navy Test Pilot School in 1998, he performed as an operational test pilot for the FA-18E/F Super Hornet program with the Vampires of VX-9, located at China Lake, California.  Scott then completed a CAG Paddles tour flying FA-18A/C Hornets with Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) aboard USS Carl Vinson.  CVW-11 and USS Carl Vinson were among the first responders following the attacks of September 11, 2001.  After a tour as Assistant Operations Officer with the Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and instructor pilot with VFA-122, he completed a Department Head tour as Safety Officer, Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer while flying the FA-18A Hornet with the Warhawks of VFA-97 (Lemoore, California).  Scott completed a deployment with CVW-11 to the Western Pacific/North Arabian Gulf and also deployed with Marine Air Group Twelve (MAG-12) to Iwakuni, Japan.  In 2005, Tingle returned to Patuxent River, Maryland as the Ship Suitability Department Head and test pilot with the Salty Dogs of VX-23.  Here he tested FA-18C Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft, and certified aircraft carrier precision landing systems.  Scott was attached to PMA-201 as the Lead Systems Engineer for the SLAM and Harpoon weapon systems when selected as an astronaut candidate.  He has accumulated over 3100 flight hours in 48 types of aircraft, 700 carrier arrestments and 54 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

NASA EXPERIENCE:  Tingle was selected in July 2009 as one of 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class.  He is currently in Astronaut Candidate Training that includes scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, Extravehicular Activity (EVA), robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.

SEPTEMBER 2009