Credit: NASA

PERSONAL DATA: Born February 21, 1964 in Orange, New Jersey, but considers West Orange, New Jersey, to be his hometown. He enjoys cycling, weight-lifting and golf. His parents, Richard and Patricia Kelly, reside in Flagler Beach, Florida. He has two children.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Mountain High School, West Orange, New Jersey, in 1982; received bachelor of science degrees in marine engineering and marine transportation (with highest honors) from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1986, and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1994.

ORGANIZATIONS: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association.

AWARDS: Awarded Defense Superior Service Medal, four Air Medals (2 individual/2 strike flight) with Combat "V," two Navy Commendation Medals (one with combat "V"), Navy Commendation Medal with "V," Navy Achievement Medal, two Southwest Asia Service Medals, Navy Expeditionary Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Overseas Service Ribbon, and various other unit awards.

EXPERIENCE: Kelly received his commission from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in June 1986, and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1987. He then reported to Attack Squadron 128 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington, for initial training in the A-6E Aircraft. Upon completion of this training, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 115 based in Atsugi, Japan. While assigned to Attack Squadron 115 he made two deployments to the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Midway. During his second deployment he flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Kelly was selected for the Naval Post Graduate School/Test Pilot School Cooperative Education Program in July 1991. He completed 15 months of graduate work at Monterey, California, before attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in June 1993. After graduating in June 1994, he worked as a project test pilot at the Carrier Suitability Department of the Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, Patuxent River, Maryland, flying the A-6E, EA-6B and F-18 aircraft. Kelly was assigned to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as an instructor pilot in the F-18, T-38 and T-2 aircraft when selected for the astronaut program.

He has logged over 4,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft and has over 375 carrier landings.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in April 1996, Kelly reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. He has been assigned duties as the T-38 Safety Officer and has supported the Advanced Programs Branch of the Astronaut Office. He flew on STS-108 in 2001, and has logged almost 12 days in space. Kelly is assigned as the pilot on STS-121, a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Kelly served as the pilot for STS-108 Endeavour (December 5-17, 2001). STS-108 was the 12 th shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. Endeavour's crew delivered the Expedition-4 crew and returned the Expedition-3 crew, unloaded over 3 tons of equipment and supplies from the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, and performed one space walk to wrap thermal blankets around ISS Solar Array Gimbals. STS-108 traveled 4.8 million miles orbiting the earth 185 times in 283 hours and 36 minutes.