PERSONAL DATA: Born March 26, 1962 in the village Elanets, Elanetsky district, Nikolayev region. Resides in Star City. Married to Olga Vladimirovna (Shapovalova), born December 21, 1961. They have two sons. Gidzenko enjoys team sports, swimming, tennis and football. Gidzenko's parents, Pavel Vasilievich and Galina Mikhailovna, reside in the settlement of Berezovka, Odessa region.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Kharkov Military Aviation College of Pilots in 1983. Graduated from Moscow State University of land-surveying and cartography in 1994.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded three Armed Forces medals.

EXPERIENCE: After graduation from Aviation College in 1983, served as a pilot and senior pilot in the Air Force. 3rd class military pilot.

December 1987 through June 1989, took the course of general space training. Starting September 1989 continued training in the group of test-cosmonauts.

Instructor of paradrop training. Fulfilled 145 parachute jumps.

From March through October 1994 trained for the 17th main mission and Euromir-94 flight as a commander of the backup crew.

From September 3, 1995 through February 29, 1996, Gidzenko was the commander of the Euromir-95 mission on the Russian Space Station Mir.