Captain Chris Cassidy is a distinguished veteran with an extraordinary career spanning the military, NASA, and beyond. Starting as a U.S. Navy SEAL, Cassidy completed multiple deployments to Afghanistan and the Mediterranean, serving in various leadership roles including Ground Assault Force Commander for U.S. and international combat missions. He also mastered the challenging operations of SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) submersibles. Cassidy’s ability to excel in high-stakes environments laid the foundation for his transition to space exploration.

In 2004, Cassidy was selected as a NASA astronaut and embarked on his first spaceflight in 2009, becoming the 500th person to fly into space. Over three missions, including as Commander of the International Space Station, he logged 378 days in space and 54 hours on spacewalks, placing him among an elite group of astronauts. As NASA’s Chief Astronaut from 2015-2017, Cassidy was responsible for flight assignments and mission preparation, helping lead NASA’s astronaut corps before retiring in 2021.

Now serving as CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum, Cassidy remains a leader in public service. His many accolades include the Bronze Star with combat “V,” the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the Great American Patriot Award. He also completed the Ironman World Championship and earned two honorary PhDs. Today, he inspires audiences through motivational talks on leadership, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.