Bernard A. Harris, Jr MD
July 18, 1953
physician, astronaut, philanthropist and entrepreneur
First African-American to walk in space.
Graduated from Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, Texas, in 1974. He received a bachelor of science degree in biology from University of Houston in 1978, a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985. In addition, he completed a National Research Council Fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center in 1987, and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, in 1988. Dr. Harris also received a
master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1996.He founded The Harris Foundation, a Houston, Texas-based non-profit organization, whose stated mission is “to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. THF supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.
Mission Served On
STS-55 (April 26, 1993)
STS-63 (February 3, 1995)
PERSONAL DATA: Born June 26, 1956, in Temple, Texas. Married to the former
Sandra Fay Lewis of Sunnyvale, California. They have one child. He enjoys flying,
sailing, skiing, running, scuba diving, art and music. Bernard’s mother, Mrs. Gussie H.
Burgess, and his stepfather, Mr. Joe Roye Burgess, reside in San Antonio, Texas. His
father, Mr. Bernard A. Harris, Sr., resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sandra’s
parents, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Reed, reside in Sunnyvale.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, Texas, in
1974; received a bachelor of science degree in biology from University of Houston in
1978, a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982.
Dr. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985. In
addition, he completed a National Research Council Fellowship at NASA Ames
Research Center in 1987, and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of
Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, in 1988. Dr. Harris also received a master’s degree in biomedical
science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1996.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research,
Aerospace Medical Association, National Medical Association, American Medical Association, Minnesota Medical
Association, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Texas Tech University Alumni Association, and Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. Aircraft Owners and Pilot
Association. Association of Space Explorers. American Astronautical Society. Member, Board of Directors, Boys and Girls
Club of Houston. Committee Member, Greater Houston Area Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Member, Board of
Directors, Manned Space Flight Education Foundation Inc.
SPECIAL HONORS: 1996 Honorary Doctorate of Science, Morehouse School of Medicine. Medal of Excellence, Golden
State Minority Foundation 1996. NASA Award of Merit 1996. NASA Equal Opportunity Medal 1996. NASA Outstanding
Leadership Medal 1996. The Challenger Award, The Ronald E. McNair Foundation 1996. Award of Achievement, The
Association of Black Cardiologists 1996. Space Act Tech Brief Award 1995. Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society,
Zeta of Texas Chapter 1995. Election of Fellowship in the American College of Physicians 1994. Distinguished Alumnus, The
University of Houston Alumni Organization 1994. Distinguished Scientist of the Year, ARCS Foundation, Inc., 1994. Life
Membership, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. NASA Space Flight Medals 1993, 1995. NASA Outstanding Performance Rating
- JSC Group Achievement Award 1993. Physician of the Year, National Technical Association, 1993. Achiever of the
Year, National Technical Association, 1993. American Astronautical Society Melbourne W. Boynton Award for Outstanding
Contribution to Space Medicine 1993. Achievement Award, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity 1993. Who’s Who Among Rising
Young Americans Citation 1992. Certificate of Merit, Governor of Texas 1990. City of San Antonio Citation for Achievement - NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award 1989. NASA Outstanding Performance Rating 1988. NASA Sustained
Superior Performance Award 1988, 1989. National Research Council Fellowship 1986, 1987. Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society - Outstanding Young Men of America 1984. University of Houston Achievement Award 1978. Achievement Award
1978.
EXPERIENCE: After completing his residency training in 1985 at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Harris then completed a National
Research Council Fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. While at Ames he conducted research
in the field of musculoskeletal physiology, and disuse osteoporosis, completing his fellowship in 1987. He then joined NASA
Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. His duties included clinical investigations of space adaptation
and the development of countermeasures for extended duration space flight. Assigned to the Medical Science Division, he held
1996.
the title of Project Manager, Exercise Countermeasure Project. Dr. Harris holds several faculty appointments. He is an
associate professor in internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch; an assistant professor at the Baylor College
of Medicine; a clinical professor at the University of Texas School of Medicine; and is an adjunct professor at the University of
Texas School of Public Health. He is a member, Board of Regents for the Texas Tech University Health Science Center in
Lubbock, Texas. Fellow, American College of Physicians. He is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications.
In addition, Dr. Harris has been in group medical practice in internal medicine with both the South Texas Primary Care in San
Antonio, Texas, and with the San Jose Medical Group in San Jose, California. Dr. Harris is also a licensed private pilot.
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Harris became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for assignment as a mission
specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews. He served as the crew representative for Shuttle Software in the Astronaut Office
Operations Development Branch. A veteran of two space flights, Dr. Harris has logged more than 438 hours in space. He was a
mission specialist on STS-55 (April 26 to May 6, 1993), and was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995).
Dr. Harris was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-55, Spacelab D-2, in August 1991, and later flew on board Columbia for
ten days, (April 26 to May 6, 1993), marking the Shuttle’s one year of total flight time. Dr. Harris was part of the payload crew
of Spacelab D-2, conducting a variety of research in physical and life sciences. During this flight, Dr. Harris logged over 239
hours and 4,164,183 miles in space.
Most recently, Dr. Harris was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995), the first flight of the new joint
Russian-American Space Program. Mission highlights included the rendezvous with the Russian Space Station, Mir, the operation
of a variety of investigations in the Spacehab module, and the deployment and retrieval of Spartan 204. During the flight, Dr.
Harris became the first African-American to walk in space. He logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits,
and traveled over 2.9 million miles.
Dr. Harris left NASA in April 1996. He is the Chief Scientist and Vice-President of Science and Health Services.
JANUARY 1999.
Harris left NASA in April 1996 but has continued research.[citation needed] He served as Vice President of SPACEHAB, Inc., an innovative space commercialization company, where he directed the company’s space science business. He also served as Vice President of Business Development for Space Media, Inc., an Informatics company, establishing an e-commerce initiative that is now part of the United Nations’ education program.
In the late 1990s, Harris served as a member of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System.
In 1998, he founded The Harris Foundation, a Houston, Texas-based non-profit organization, whose stated mission is “to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. THF supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.”
In 2007, Dr. Harris joined the board of the National Math and Science Initiative.
In 2008, he appeared in Microsoft’s “I’m a P.C.” ad campaign. Harris also gave a keynote speech at the Exxon Mobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair.
In 2009, he was elected Vice President of the American Telemedicine Association. He was elected President of the American Telemedicine Association in 2011, serving for a one-year term that ended in 2012.
In 2010, he was part of the Dream Tour where he traveled to over 30 schools around the country.
Currently, Dr. Harris is CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative and President and Chief Executive Officer of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital accelerator, that invests in early-stage companies in Medical Informatics and Technology.
As of April 19, 2021, Harris serves on the board of directors for commercial aerospace and weapons manufacturer Raytheon Technologies.
Bernard Harris received an honorary degree from USciences in 2021.
Organizations and Honors
Harris is a member of many professional, academic, and service organizations, including the American College of Physicians, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Houston, National Math and Science Initiative, Medical Informatics, Technology and Applications Center, Houston Technology Center, and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Board of Scientific Counselors. He has been recognized several times by NASA and other organizations for his professional and academic achievements. In 1996 he received an honorary doctorate from the Morehouse College School of Medicine. He later received honorary doctorates from Stonybrook University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the University of Houston. He has also received a NASA Space Flight medal, a NASA Award of Merit, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and the 2000 Horatio Alger Award.
In 2005, the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas named a middle school under construction after Harris. Bernard Harris Middle School opened on August 14, 2006, to have a capacity of 1500 students.