NASA has chosen seasoned astronaut and former U.S. Navy captain Scott Tingle as the new Chief Astronaut, marking a major leadership shift at the agency’s Johnson Space Center. His long career in aviation, spaceflight, and mission training makes him one of NASA’s most experienced voices at a time when the agency prepares for new missions to the International Space Station and future deep space exploration.
NASA Announces New Chief Astronaut
Scott Tingle has officially taken over as Chief Astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The announcement came with strong praise from agency leadership, who highlighted his deep operational background and long history of service. Tingle, a spaceflight veteran and former U.S. Navy captain, now leads NASA’s astronaut corps as they train for future missions.
Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, congratulated Tingle for assuming the new role. She thanked Joe Acaba, the outgoing Chief Astronaut, for guiding the corps through recent International Space Station (ISS) missions and supporting the development of new space technologies. She said his efforts helped strengthen NASA’s work in preparing astronauts for both current and upcoming programs.
Who Is Scott Tingle?
Scott Tingle’s journey with NASA began in July 2009. He was selected as one of the nine members of the 20th astronaut class. His introduction to the agency included intense training that covered several critical skills. He learned ISS systems, robotics, spacewalk techniques, and survival skills. He also completed T-38 jet training and took part in technical briefings and scientific preparation.
Scott Tingle Salary
NASA’s new Chief Astronaut, Scott Tingle, falls under the highest federal civilian pay category, GS-15. His yearly salary is estimated to be between $125,133 and $162,672, depending on his step level and location-based adjustments.
Apart from their basic pay, NASA astronauts also receive a wide range of benefits. These include medical coverage, specialised mission training, psychological support services, and travel-related allowances.
Astronauts are not paid extra for the hours they spend in space. The period they are on a mission is treated as official duty travel. They do, however, receive a small daily allowance for minor expenses, which is said to be about $4 per day.
Spaceflight Experience of Scott Tingle
Tingle’s notable space mission was Expedition 54/55, which launched on December 17, 2017, and concluded on June 3, 2018. He served as the flight engineer and the U.S. operational segment lead during the mission.
He launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Soyuz spacecraft along with Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai. The crew conducted several experiments aboard the ISS. These included research on materials, fluid behavior, combustion, and plant growth in microgravity.
The crew also handled four separate cargo spacecraft during the mission. They captured and released vehicles that delivered supplies, science equipment, and experiments. During the expedition, Tingle and Kanai performed spacewalks to work on the Canadarm2 robotic arm, one of the most advanced systems on the ISS.
Tingle and his team also participated in NASA’s Year of Education on Station, interacting with students and teachers from space. He logged a total of 168 days in orbit on his mission.
Naval Flight and Test Pilot Career of Scott Tingle
Before joining NASA, Tingle built a decades-long career in the U.S. Navy and the aerospace industry. After completing graduate studies, he worked at the Aerospace Corporation in California. He joined the Navy as an officer in 1991 and earned his wings in 1993.
He soon began flying operational missions with the Blue Diamonds of VFA-146 in California. His deployments took him to the Western Pacific and the North Arabian Gulf aboard the USS Nimitz. After completing Test Pilot School in 1998, he became part of the FA-18E/F Super Hornet test program at VX-9.
Tingle later flew FA-18A/C Hornets with Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) on the USS Carl Vinson. The team responded immediately after the 9/11 attacks and took part in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Over the years, he served in major operational and leadership roles. He worked as a maintenance and operations officer with VFA-97, deployed to Japan with Marine Air Group Twelve, and tested several aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. His work included certifying precision landing systems and testing FA-18C, FA-18E/F, and EA-18G aircraft.
Before he became an astronaut, Tingle worked as a systems engineer on weapon systems such as SLAM and Harpoon. His aviation experience now covers more than 4,500 flight hours in 51 aircraft types, along with 750 carrier landings and 54 combat missions.
Education Background of Scott Tingle
Tingle graduated from Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1983. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and completed his Master’s degree at Purdue University in 1988 with a focus on propulsion and fluid mechanics. He also completed additional military and leadership programs during his career.
Tingle was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and considers Randolph, Massachusetts, his hometown. He is married to Raynette Mahelona and has three children.
