LELAND D. MELVIN
ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR EDUCATION
NASA HEADQUARTERS (FORMER)
February 15, 1964
Missions
STS -122 (February 7,2008)
STS-129 (November 16, 2009)
PERSONAL DATA: Born February 15, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Unmarried.
Recreational interests include photography, piano, reading, music, cycling, tennis, and
snowboarding. Loves walking his dogs, Jake and Scout. Chosen by the Detroit Lions
in the 11 th round of the 1986 NFL college draft. Also participated in the Toronto
Argonauts and Dallas Cowboys football training camps. His parents Deems and Grace
Melvin, reside in Lynchburg, Virginia.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Heritage High School, Lynchburg, Virginia, in
1982; received a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry from the University of
Richmond, Richmond, Virginia in 1986; and a Master of Science Degree in Materials
Science Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1991.
ORGANIZATIONS: National Technical Association (Hampton Roads Chapter
Secretary 1993), American Chemical Society, The Society for Experimental Mechanics.
SPECIAL HONORS/AWARDS: Invention Disclosure Award for Lead Insensitive Fiber Optic Phase Locked Loop Sensor,
NASA Outstanding Performance Awards (8), NASA Superior Accomplishment Award (2), Key to the City of Lynchburg,
Virginia, NCAA Division I Academic All American, University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee.
EXPERIENCE: Melvin began working in the Fiber Optic Sensors group of the Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch
at NASA Langley Research Center in 1989 where he conducted research in the area of physical measurements for the
development of advanced instrumentation for Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE). His responsibilities included using optical
fiber sensors to measure strain, temperature, and chemical damage in both composite and metallic structures. Additional
projects included developing optical interferometric techniques for quantitative determination of damage in aerospace
structures and materials. In 1994, Melvin was selected to lead the Vehicle Health Monitoring (VHM) team for the cooperative
Lockheed/NASA X-33 Reuseable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program. The team developed distributed fiber optic strain,
temperature and hydrogen sensors for the reduction of vehicle operational costs and to monitor composite liquid oxygen tank
and cryogenic insulation performance. In 1996, Melvin codesigned and monitored construction of an optical NDE facility
capable of producing in-line fiber optic Bragg grating strain sensors at rates in excess of 1000 per hour. This facility provides
a means for performing advanced sensor and laser research for development of aerospace and civil health monitoring systems.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA JSC in June 1998, Mr. Melvin reported for training in August 1998. Astronaut
Candidate Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction
in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training,
as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. Mr. Melvin has served the Astronaut Office Space Station
Operations Branch, the Education Department at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C, and the Robotics Branch of the
Astronaut Office. As co-manager of NASA’s Educator Astronaut Program, Leland Melvin traveled across the country,
engaging thousands of students and teachers in the excitement of space exploration, and inspiring them to pursue careers in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A veteran of two space flights, STS-122 in 2008, and STS-129 in 2009,
Leland Melvin has logged over 565 hours in space.
In October 2010, Melvin was named as associate administrator for the Office of Education. As associate administrator, Melvin
was responsible for the development and implementation of NASA’s education programs that inspire interest in science and
technology and raise public awareness about NASA goals and missions. He retired from NASA in February 2014
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-122 Atlantis (February 7 to February 20, 2008) was the 24 th shuttle mission to visit
the International Space Station. Mission highlight was the delivery and installation of the European Space Agency’s Columbus
Laboratory. It took three spacewalks by crew members to prepare the Columbus Laboratory for its scientific work, and to
replace an expended nitrogen tank on the Station’s P-1 Truss. STS-122 was also a crew replacement mission, delivering
Expedition-16 Flight Engineer, ESA Astronaut Léopold Eyharts, and returning home with Expedition-16 Flight Engineer,
NASA Astronaut Daniel Tani. The STS-122 mission was accomplished in 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds, and
traveled 5,296,832 statute miles in 203 Earth orbits.
STS-129 (November 16 to November 29, 2009) was the 31 st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. During the
mission, the crew delivered two Express Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the International Space Station, about 30,000
pounds of replacement parts for systems that provide power to the station, keep it from overheating and maintain proper
orientation in space. The mission also featured three spacewalks. The STS-129 mission was completed in 10 days, 19 hours,
16 minutes and 13 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits, and returned to Earth bringing back with them NASA
Astronaut, Nicole Stott, following her tour of duty aboard the space station.
Since retiring from NASA, Leland has given several STEM lectures of his experience in space to a wide range of audiences, as well as his football career in the NFL. He is described as being one of the most inspiring and influential NASA astronauts of all time. During his NASA career, while he was doing underwater training, he sustained and partially recovered from a serious ear injury where his doctors stated the possibility of him being deaf, a malady that affects his left ear. Melvin has published two books; Chasing Space: An Astronaut’s Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances and Chasing Space: Young Reader’s Edition.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing the piano, cooking, and walking his two dogs Roux and Zoro, and is featured in several National Geographic Space documentaries and videos.