Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim, a former SEAL, Harvard-trained doctor, and NASA astronaut, left the space agency on August 27, 2026, to resume active duty with naval aviation training.
Kim joined NASA in 2017 after a distinguished military career that included over 100 combat missions as a SEAL, earning awards such as the Silver Star and Bronze Star with valor. While at NASA, he completed an eight-month tour aboard the International Space Station, logging 3,920 orbits and nearly 104 trillion miles traveled. He also qualified as a Naval Aviator in 2023, transitioning from SEAL night-vision operations to cockpit integration in degraded visual environments.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Kim’s contributions, noting his work will influence future missions for decades. Kim, who enlisted in 2002 and was commissioned in 2012, cited his time at NASA as a formative experience. He now returns to naval aviation, carrying forward his commitment to service and space exploration.
