Colonel Andrew R. Morgan

Colonel Andrew R. Morgan

Colonel Andrew R. Morgan

Dr. Andrew “Drew” Morgan was selected by NASA in 2013.  Dr. Morgan is an emergency physician in the U.S. Army with sub-specialty certification in primary care sports medicine.  He is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, NY and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.  Prior to his selection to NASA’s 21st group of astronauts, Dr. Morgan served in elite special operations units worldwide.  He is married with four children and considers New Castle, PA his hometown. Drew most recently served as flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 60, 61 and 62. 

Personal Data:

Born in Morgantown, West Virginia to a military family, Drew moved between California, New York, Texas, Great Britain and Delaware over the course of his childhood.  His parents, Colonel (U.S. Air Force, Ret.) Richard and Janice Morgan reside in New Castle, Pennsylvania.  His wife, Stacey, is from Acton, Massachusetts.  They have four children.  His hobbies include distance running, swimming, weight-lifting, reading space and military history and family road trips. 
 
Education:

Graduated from Dover High School, Dover, Delaware in 1994; earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1998; earned a Doctorate in Medicine from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland in 2002; completed residency in Emergency Medicine, Madigan-University of Washington Emergency Medicine Residency, Tacoma, Washington in 2005; completed fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Fairfax, Virginia in 2013. 

Experience:

At the U.S. Military Academy, Dr. Morgan was a member of the West Point Parachute Team, the “Black Knights,” where he participated in stadium demonstrations and, in 1996, his team earned the Collegiate National Title in competitive skydiving.  Upon graduating from West Point, he attended medical school and completed his residency training before volunteering for the Army special operations community.  During his initial assignment as an attending physician at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Dr. Morgan served as a medical team member in the Joint Special Operations Command and worked as a part-time physician for the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the “Golden Knights,” where he maintained his parachuting skills.  He subsequently became the Battalion Surgeon for 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) “Desert Eagles.”  After three years serving on flight, combat dive, and airborne status with the Desert Eagles, Dr. Morgan was selected for a strategic special operations assignment in the Washington, DC area.  Throughout Dr. Morgan’s assignments with special operations forces, he deployed in direct support of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.  Dr. Morgan’s medical qualifications include: board certification in emergency medicine, subspecialty certification in primary care sports medicine (CAQSM), and national registry in musculoskeletal ultrasound (RMSK).  He also holds ratings as a military flight surgeon and special operations diving medical officer.  His military skills and professional training include: Command and General Staff College, Ranger School, Combat Diver Qualification Course, Airborne and Freefall (HALO/HAHO) Parachutist Courses, and multiple high threat environment survivability courses. 

NASA Experience:

Dr. Morgan was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class.  In July 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included Russian language training, scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalk and spacesuit operations, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, earth science training, water and wilderness survival training.  Following initial training, Dr. Morgan served in the EVA/Robotics Branch and the Crew Operations Branch.   

Spaceflight Experience:

Expedition 60, 61 and 62 (July 20, 2019 through April 17, 2020). The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. Morgan, who served as Flight Engineer, was joined by Luca Parmitano of ESA.  The crew contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development. He also conducted seven spacewalks, totaling 45 hours and 48 minutes, four of which were to improve and extend the life of the station’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer as it looks for evidence of dark matter in the universe. Morgan’s extended stay in space will increase knowledge about how the human body responds to longer-duration spaceflight, through the various investigations he supported, including the Fluid Shifts study. His flight spanned a total of 4,352 Earth orbits and a journey of 115.3 million miles.  

Awards/Honors:

U.S. Military Academy Superintendent’s Award; Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; Assistant Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine - Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine; Army Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator; Military awards: Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (one campaign star), NATO Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, and Expert Field Medical Badge. 

Organizations:

Special Operations Medical Association (lifetime member), Joint Special Operations Association (lifetime member), Wilderness Medical Society, U.S. Parachute Association (lifetime member and D-license holder), West Point Association of Graduates, Boy Scouts of America (Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 452).