Air Force pilot becomes one of newest astronauts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO --  A former F-22A Raptor test pilot has now joined the ranks of an even more elite group of pilots.

Lt. Col. James Dutton became an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration following his graduation in February.

“I wanted to be an astronaut when I joined the Air Force so I always tried to take that next step to become an astronaut,” he said.

Joining the NASA team, the 37-year-old Eugene, Oregon-native brings some unique capabilities to the space agency.

Colonel Dutton flew in the cockpit of an F-15 Eagle from October 1995 to May 1998 flying more than 100 combat hours providing direct combat support during operations Provide Comfort and Northern Watch. Colonel Dutton has more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft including the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Before joining NASA, he was with the 411st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where he flight tested the F-22A. During this two-year period, he flew avionics and high-risk envelope expansions tests and racked up more than 350 flight hours in the Raptor – experience, he said, is a tremendous asset as he joins NASA.

“The F-22 was a great experience,” he said. “NASA is in the process of building a new exploration vehicle called the Crew Exploration Vehicle to take us to the moon and eventually to Mars, so I think that experience is going to be invaluable in terms of developing a new vehicle, understanding what a moderate cockpit is capable of and adapting that to a space mission.”

Colonel Dutton’s initial technical assignment with NASA’s exploration branch is working on the development of the crew exploration vehicle cockpit.

But, the colonel’s technical expertise is not the only benefit he feels Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines bring to NASA.

“I think the military brings a unique skill set to the NASA,” he said. “The flight test experience of most of the pilots is invaluable in terms of how we develop operations for the vehicles we have. We (also) have medical doctors from the military. We have flight test engineers that bring in backgrounds that certainly help. So, I think there will always be a place for the military that NASA is going to need.”

Colonel Dutton also emphasized the great teamwork environment at his new office.

“They have done an excellent job bringing in people from the civilian community -- from academia and medicine and many other career fields that have contributed a lot,” he said. “It is a great balance here. It is a lot of fun to work with a lot of really smart people from various backgrounds.”

While Colonel Dutton might be switching his uniforms, he said he will still be serving America.

“I think most people are familiar with some of the more famous things that NASA has worked on, but really there is a tremendous contribution (made by NASA) to daily life,” he said. “When you think of everything from the recent hurricanes we’ve had and the monitoring of weather from space that makes it possible to predict where different events are going to occur.

“Of course, the technology transfer continues to be there,” Colonel Dutton said. “Communications is a big area. We are all carrying around cell phones these days and NASA has had a big contribution in terms of developing that kind of communications technology. The technology tends to roll down hill into the commercial sector and affect our lives. NASA usually has either a small or big part in a lot of those types of advances.”
Now that the colonel has reached this pinnacle in his career, he has plenty of advice for his fellow Airmen looking to follow the path he took.

“I think that the most important thing is to enjoy each place that you are at -- each assignment, each job, do the best you can -- because ultimately that is going to help you to get to become an Astronaut,” Colonel Dutton said. “There are a lot of things that you can’t control in the process and at any point it may be that it is no longer possible, but I think if you always give it your best and enjoy it the whole way, you are going to love the time you have had in the Air Force. I know that I certainly have. I enjoyed every aspect of it.”