Topic: Patrick Forrester

Patrick Graham Forrester (born 31 March 1957 in El Paso, Texas) is a retired United States Army officer and a NASA astronaut. At the time of his retirement from the U.S. Army, Forrester had achieved the rank of colonel. Forrester is married and has 2 children. Patrick Forrester has received a number of awards and honors including a Defense Superior Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and many others. In June 1992, Forrester graduated from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. As a Master Army Aviator, Forrester has logged over 4,400 hours in over 50 different aircraft. Forrester is has flown 2 previous mission, STS-105 and STS-117. He has logged over 621 hours in space and is a veteran of 4 spacewalks, totaling 25 hours and 22 minutes. Forester is currently scheduled to fly on STS-128.

Born March 31, 1957 in El Paso, Texas. He is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Married to the former Diana Lynn Morris of Springfield, Virginia. They have two sons. His parents, Colonel (ret.) Redmond V. and Patsy L. Forrester, reside in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Forrester graduated from West Point in June 1979 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He entered the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1979 and was designated an Army aviator in September 1980. He was subsequently assigned as an instructor pilot at the Aviation School and as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation Center. In 1984, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a platoon leader, aviation company operations officer, and an assault helicopter battalion operations officer. After completing a master of science degree at the University of Virginia in 1989, he was assigned as a flight test engineer and as the research and development coordinator with the Army Aviation Engineering Flight Activity at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In June 1992, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and was designated an experimental test pilot. In 1992, he was assigned as an engineering test pilot at the U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama. Other military schools include the Army Parachutist Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College.