On January 17, 1990, NASA Johnson Space Center announced 23 new candidates for the Space Shuttle program.

The group consisted of 7 pilot candidates and 16 mission specialist candidates, including 11 civilians and 12 military officers.Among the 5 women selected were 3 military officers, including the first woman to be named as a pilot candidate, and the first Hispanic woman to be chosen.

Ellen Ochoa was an optical physicist in the NASA Ames Research Center when she was chosen to begin a year of training and evaluation, followed by technical assignments leading to selection for Shuttle flight crews.

Born in Los Angeles, Calif. she graduated from Grossmont High School, La Mesa, Calif. She earned a bachelor's degree in physics from San Diego State in 1980, and a master's in electrical engineering from Stanford University a year later. In 1985, she earned her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford.

Dr. Ochoa became an astronaut in July 1991. A veteran of four space flights, Ochoa logged over 978 hours in space.

She was a mission specialist on STS-56 (1993), a 9-day mission during which the crew conducted atmospheric and solar studies in order to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth’s climate and environment. Ochoa was the Payload Commander on the STS-66 Atlantis Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-3 mission (November 3-14, 1994). ATLAS-3 continued the series of Spacelab flights to study the energy of the sun during an 11-year solar cycle and to learn how changes in the sun’s irradiance affect the earth’s climate and environment. Dr. Ochoa used the RMS to retrieve the CRISTA-SPAS atmospheric research satellite at the end of its 8-day free flight.

STS-96 Discovery (May 27 to June 6, 1999) was a 10-day mission during which the crew performed the first docking to the International Space Station, and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies in preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the station. Dr. Ochoa coordinated the transfer of supplies and also operated the RMS during the 8-hour spacewalk. STS-110 Atlantis (April 8-19, 2002) was the 13th space shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station.

Milestones during the 11-day mission included: the delivery and installation of the S0 (S-Zero) Truss; the first time the station’s robotic arm was used to maneuver spacewalkers around the station; and the first time that all of a space shuttle crew’s spacewalks were based from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Dr. Ochoa currently serves as Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. NASA awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Exceptional Service Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, and four Space Flight Medals.

She is a classical flutist and enjoys traveling and family activities. She is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), Member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies.

Dr. Ocha has six schools named after her: the Ellen Ochoa Middle School in Pasco, Washington, the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in Cudahy, California, the Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Milam Elementary in Grand Prairie, Texas and the Amino Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School in Los Angeles, the Ellen Ochoa Prep Academy in Pico Rivera, California, and Ellen Ochoa Elementary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She is a co-inventor on three patents and author of numerous technical papers.