ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Ronald Garan, a NASA astronaut who earned his bachelor's degree from the SUNY College at Oneonta in 1982, will return to his alma mater to speak about his experiences on Monday, October 20, at 7 p.m. in Lecture Hall 3 of the Instructional Resources Center. Admission to the event is complimentary, and members of the community are invited to attend.
Colonel Garan will also speak with SUNY Oneonta students on Monday afternoon in the Instructional Resources Center. At 3 p.m. in the Physical Science Building, he will hold an open meeting for students and faculty entitled "Conversations with an Astronaut."
Air Force Colonel Garan served as a Mission Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery during its mission to the International Space Station in June of this year. The shuttle delivered the Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System to the station. Shuttle astronauts delivered the 37-foot Kibo lab and added its rooftop storage room.
On the mission, Garan completed three space walks for a total of more than 20 hours. He worked on maintaining the station and priming the new Japanese module's robotic arm for work during the nine days that the shuttle was docked at the orbiting laboratory.
Colonel Garan was selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000. After the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station and Shuttle Operations Branches.
In April of 2006, Garan became an aquanaut through his participation in the joint NASA-NOAA, NEEMO 9 (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation), an exploration research mission held in Aquarius, the world's only undersea research laboratory. During this 18-day mission, the six-person crew of NEEMO 9 developed lunar surface exploration procedures and telemedical technology applications in support of the nation's Vision for Space Exploration.
Ronald Garan received the Distinguished Graduate and Top Academic Award from USAF Fighter Weapons School; was twice selected Top Academic Instructor Pilot at the USAF Weapons School; received the Lt. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault Award at the USAF Weapons School and USAF Weapons and Tactics Center; was named a Distinguished Graduate of Officers School; and received the Top Academic Award in the F-16 Replacement Training Unit.
Garan's military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross for
Combat Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement
Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for Valor, National Defense Service
Medal, Humanitarian Service Award, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and various
other service awards. He also received the NASA Superior Accomplishment
Award and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Award.
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For more information about the College, please call the Community Relations Office at (607) 436-2748 or send e-mail to Carol Blazina, Vice President for Community Relations.SUNY College at Oneonta - Ravine Parkway - Oneonta, NY 13820 - 607.436.3500
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