Alumni Spotlight
Andrew Morgan, MD, MPH
Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
NASA Astronaut
Biography (NASA.gov)
Summary
Dr. Andrew “Drew” Morgan was selected by NASA in 2013. Dr. Morgan is an emergency physician in the U.S. Army with sub-specialty certification in primary care sports medicine. He is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, NY and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Prior to his selection to NASA’s 21st group of astronauts, Dr. Morgan served in elite special operations units worldwide. He is married with four children and considers New Castle, PA his hometown. Drew most recently served as flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 60, 61 and 62.
Personal
Born in Morgantown, West Virginia to a military family, Drew moved between California, New York, Texas, Great Britain and Delaware over the course of his childhood. His parents, Colonel (U.S. Air Force, Ret.) Richard and Janice Morgan reside in New Castle, Pennsylvania. His wife, Stacey, is from Acton, Massachusetts. They have four children. His hobbies include distance running, swimming, weight-lifting, reading space and military history and family road trips.
Education
Graduated from Dover High School, Dover, Delaware in 1994; earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1998; earned a Doctorate in Medicine from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland in 2002; completed residency in Emergency Medicine, Madigan-University of Washington Emergency Medicine Residency, Tacoma, Washington in 2005; completed fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Fairfax, Virginia in 2013; Master of Strategic Studies, US Army War College, Carlisle, PA in 2022.
Experience
At the U.S. Military Academy, Dr. Morgan was a member of the West Point Parachute Team, the “Black Knights,” where he participated in stadium demonstrations and, in 1996, his team earned the Collegiate National Title in competitive skydiving. Upon graduating from West Point, he attended medical school and completed his residency training before volunteering for the Army special operations community. During his initial assignment as an attending physician at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Dr. Morgan served as a medical team member in the Joint Special Operations Command and worked as a part-time physician for the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the “Golden Knights,” where he maintained his parachuting skills. He subsequently became the Battalion Surgeon for 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) “Desert Eagles.” After three years serving on flight, combat dive, and airborne status with the Desert Eagles, Dr. Morgan was selected for a strategic special operations assignment in the Washington, DC area. Throughout Dr. Morgan’s assignments with special operations forces, he deployed in direct support of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. Dr. Morgan’s medical qualifications include: board certification in emergency medicine and subspecialty certification in primary care sports medicine (CAQSM). He also holds ratings as an Army master flight surgeon (with astronaut device) and special operations diving medical officer. His military skills and professional training include: Command and General Staff College, Ranger School, Combat Diver Qualification Course, Airborne and Freefall (HALO/HAHO) Parachutist Courses, Army Master Space Badge, and multiple high threat environment survivability courses.
NASA Experience
In June 2013, NASA selected Dr. Morgan as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. In July 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included Russian language training, scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalk and spacesuit operations, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, earth science training, water and wilderness survival training. Following initial training, Dr. Morgan served in the EVA/Robotics Branch and the Crew Operations Branch. Since completing his first spaceflight, Dr. Morgan served as the Mission Support Branch Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office and Mission Increment Lead for Expedition 67-68. The Army selected Colonel Morgan for brigade-level command, and he is currently serving a two-year rotation as the Commander of US Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll and senior military advisor to the US Embassy in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Spaceflight Experience
Flight Engineer and US Segment Lead (Exp 61): Expedition 60, 61 and 62 (July 20, 2019 through April 17, 2020). Along with crewmates Alexander Skvortsov and Luca Parmitano, Drew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. During his 9-month mission, Drew and his crewmates contributed to hundreds of experiments from the fields ranging from biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences to technology development. While on board, Dr. Morgan conducted seven spacewalks totaling 45 hours and 48 minutes, an American record for a single spaceflight. Four of his EVAs were to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a one-of-a-kind particle detector searching for evidence of dark matter in the universe. His flight completed 4,352 Earth orbits over the course of a 115.3 million mile journey.
Awards/Honors
Distinguished Graduate, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine; Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; Assistant Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine – Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine; Army Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator; Scouts BSA Order of the Arrow Honor Society, Military awards: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (one campaign star), NASA Space Exploration Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Silver Achievement Medal, NATO Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, and Expert Field Medical Badge.
Organizations
Special Operations Medical Association (lifetime member), Joint Special Operations Association (lifetime member), Joint Medical Association (lifetime member), Army Aviation Association of America, Army Space Professional Association, Wilderness Medical Society, U.S. Parachute Association (lifetime member and D-license holder), Combat Diver Foundation, Military Freefall Association, US Army Ranger Association (lifetime member), West Point Association of Graduates.
In the News
Becoming an Astronaut with Andrew Morgan
Drew Morgan Goes to Space
8 Interesting Things about Life on the ISS
“America’s Medical School” Graduate Selected for NASA Spaceflight Mission
Following Colonel Andrew Morgan’s Journey to Space
USU 4D Bio3 Test Prints Human Knee Meniscus on the International Space Station
Medicine Among the Stars: Astronaut Talks About His Experiences, Medical Treatments in Space
Army officer to return to Earth after 272-day mission in space
Collection: (bio, photos, videos)
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/andrew-r-morgan/