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

MARK t. VANDE HEI (lIEUTENANT cOLONEL, usa)
NASA Astronaut CandidatE

PERSONAL DATA:  Born November 10, 1966 in Falls Church, Virginia.  Married to the former Julie P. Murrell of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  They have two children.  His interests also include exercise, flying, sailing, telemark skiing, diving, and playing the tin whistle.  His parents, Thomas F. and Mary E. Vande Hei, reside in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  Julie’s mother, Patricia M. Murrell, resides in Sacramento, California.  Julie’s father, Clyde R. Murrell, is deceased.

EDUCATION:  Graduated from Benilde-Saint Margaret’s High School, Saint Louis Park, Minnesota in 1985; received a bachelor of science degree in physics from Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota in 1989, and a master of science degree in applied physics from Stanford University in 1999.

ORGANIZATIONS:  Member of the Aircraft Owners’ and Pilots Association, Boy Scouts of America, Knights of Columbus, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

SPECIAL HONORS:  Captain of the Saint John’s Ranger Challenge Team; 3 Meritorious Service Medals; Joint Service Commendation Medal; 2 Army Commendation Medals; 5 Army Achievement Medals; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; National Defense Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals; Humanitarian Service Medal; German Army Parachutist Badge; NASA Achievement Medal; Professional Engineer (Commonwealth of Virginia)

EXPERIENCE:  Vande Hei was a distinguished military graduate from Saint John's University in May 1989, and was commissioned through the ROTC program as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  In 1990, after graduating from the Army’s Engineer Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, he reported to the 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment (Airborne Battalion Combat Team), Caserma Ederle, Italy.  His roles in that battalion included combat engineer platoon leader, cold-weather-training officer, and support platoon leader.  As a combat engineer platoon leader, he served in Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort.  In 1994, after completing the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, he reported to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colorado.  While at Fort Carson, Vande Hei served in the staff of the 299th and 4th Engineer Battalions as maintenance, personnel, and logistics officer, then commanded C Company, 4th Engineer Battalion.  After completing a master of science degree at Stanford University in 1999, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the United States Military Academy.  In 2003, he reported to the Army’s 1st Space Battalion at Peterson Air Force Base.  There, he served as an Army space support team leader, then as the battalion's operations officer.  As an Army space support team leader he deployed to Iraq for 12 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Other military schools include the Army Air Assault Course, Army Parachutist Course, German Army Winter Operations Course, Battalion Maintenance Officers' Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Space Operations Officer Qualification Course. 

NASA EXPERIENCE:  Vande Hei joined the NASA team at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in July of 2006.  Assigned to the astronaut office, he served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for the International Space Station.  Vande Hei has served as a space station CAPCOM for Expeditions 15 through 20 and STS-122, 123, 124, 126, and 127. 

Vande Hei was selected in June 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.