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ROBERT L. BEHNKEN (PH.D., MAJOR, USAF)
NASA ASTRONAUT (MISSION SPECIALIST)
PERSONAL DATA: Born on July 28, 1970 in Creve Coeur, Missouri, but considers St. Ann, Missouri his hometown. Recreational interests include mountain biking, skiing, and backpacking. He has a younger sister who resides in Hazelwood, Missouri, with her husband and two children. His father resides in St. Ann, Missouri.
EDUCATION:
Pattonville High School, Maryland Heights, Missouri, 1988.
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Washington University, 1992.
B.S. Physics, Washington University, 1992.
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1993.
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1997.
SPECIAL HONORS: Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Senior, Washington University (1992); National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (1993-1996); Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate, Eglin AFB Florida Company Grade Officer of the Year (1997); USAF Achievement Medal (1997); USAF Commendation Medal (1998); Distinguished graduate from the USAF Test Pilot School Program (1999); Recipient of the USAF Test Pilot School Colonel Ray Jones Award as the top Flight Test Engineer/Flight Test Navigator in class 98B; USAF Commendation Medal (2000).
EXPERIENCE: Graduate Research in Nonlinear control. Dr. Behnken's thesis research was in the area of nonlinear control applied to stabilizing rotating stall and surge in axial flow compressors. The research included nonlinear analysis, real-time software implementation development, and extensive hardware construction. During his first two years of graduate study, Dr. Behnken developed and implemented real-time control algorithms and hardware for flexible robotic manipulators.
Prior to entering graduate school, Behnken was an Air Force ROTC student at Washington University in St. Louis, and after graduate school was assigned to enter Air Force active duty at Eglin AFB, Florida. While at Eglin, he worked as a technical manager and developmental engineer for new munitions systems. Behnken was next assigned to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School Flight Test Engineer's course at Edwards AFB, California. After graduating, he was assigned to the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF) and remained at Edwards. While assigned to the F-22 program, Behnken was the lead flight test engineer for Raptor 4004 and a special projects test director. These responsibilities included flight test sortie planning, control room configuration development, and test conduct. Behnken also flew in both the F-15 and F-16 aircraft in support of the F-22 flight test program.
Major Behnken has over 700 flight hours in more than 25 different aircraft types.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as a mission specialist by NASA in July 2000, Major Behnken reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of 18 months of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch supporting launch and landing operations at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He will serve in technical assignments until assigned to a space flight.
APRIL 2004
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