Captain Sunita L. Williams is a luminary in U.S. naval aviation history.
In addition to piloting more than 30 different aircraft and logging over 3000 hours as a
Naval Aviator, Williams joined The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
as an astronaut on two missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Logging a cumulative 322 days in space, with 50 hours 40 minutes in recorded spacewalk
time, Williams is second on the US endurance list for woman astronauts, and second on the
list for total spacewalk time among women.
Sunita Williams was born September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio, to parents of Indian and
Slovenian descent.
Within a year, her family moved to Needham, MA, where she attended school until completing
high school in 1983.
After high school she attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor
of Science in Physical Science.
Williams also earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management in 1995 from the Florida
Institute of Technology.
Commissioned as an ensign in 1987, Sunita Williams first served with the Naval Coastal
Systems Command.
She then reported to Naval Aviation Training Command, where she completed aviation training
and received her wings in July 1989.
After additional training, Williams was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 in
Norfolk, VA.
From Norfolk, Williams deployed to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf in support of Operation
Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort, the latter mission providing military assistance
and humanitarian aid to the Kurdish peoples of Northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Gulf War.
In 1992, Williams served as officer in charge of an H-46 Sea Knight detachment aboard USS
Sylvania (AFS 2) during relief efforts following Hurricane Andrew.
Williams then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent
River in Maryland.
After completing the course, she was assigned to the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate
as a chase pilot for flights of the V-22 Osprey.
While serving in this role, Williams performed the duties of squadron safety officer, undertaking
test flights of numerous aircraft, including the SH-60 Seahawk, and AH-1W Super Cobra.
Williams returned to the Naval Test Pilot School in 1995 as an Instructor and Safety
Officer.
During her time as instructor, she piloted the UH-60 Blackhawk, OH-6 Cayuse, and the
OH-58 Kiowa.
Williams then returned to Norfolk to join the crew of USS Saipan (LHA 2) as Aircraft
Handler and Assistant Air Boss.
In June 1998, NASA selected Williams to train as an astronaut.
After completing a training and evaluation period Williams worked with the Russian Space
Agency in Moscow assisting International Space Station operations, and subsequently with
the Robotics Branch for operations of the station’s robotic arm equipment.
Williams’ first mission to space came in 2006 when she was part of the crew of STS-116
aboard the shuttle Discovery.
During this time Williams served as Flight Engineer.
She completed four spacewalks, totaling 29 hours 17 minutes, then a world record for
women astronauts.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson soon broke this record in 2008.
Another milestone came when Williams became the first person to run a marathon in space,
which coincided with the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts.
Williams and the rest of the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base, California in June
2007.
Williams made a second journey to the ISS in support of Expedition 32/33, when in July
2012, she launched with the crew of Soyuz TMA-05M, once again serving as Flight Engineer.
During this second mission, Williams became ISS Commander, and she retook the record for
spacewalk time for a woman astronaut when she brought her total to 50 hours 40 minutes.
This record was once again soon broken by astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Williams performed another athletic feat when she became the first person to complete a
triathlon in space, coinciding with the Nautica Malibu Triathlon held in Southern California.
This mission ended on November 18, 2012 when Williams and her crew touched down in Kazakhstan.
In a June 2017 ceremony aboard USS Constitution in Boston, MA, Captain Sunita Williams retired
from the Navy, having twice been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion
of Merit, Humanitarian Service Medal, and many other accolades.
In recognition of her career and achievements, Needham, MA dedicated Sunita L. Williams Elementary
School in October 2019.
Williams continues to work for NASA and is assigned to participate in the first crewed
operational mission of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner to the ISS, currently planned for
late 2021.