A graduate of the United States Military Academy class of 2002, Anne McClain leveraged a career as a combat helicopter pilot into a position within the NASA astronaut corps. Since her selection in 2013, she has served as a flight engineer on multiple missions to the International Space Station, logging thousands of hours of flight time across diverse aircraft platforms.
Academic and Athletic Foundations
Born in 1979 in Spokane, Washington, McClain attended Gonzaga Preparatory School before entering the United States Military Academy. She pursued advanced studies through a Marshall Scholarship, earning a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Bath in 2004 and a master's degree in international relations from the University of Bristol in 2005. Outside of her technical training, she developed a high-level competitive rugby career, playing for clubs including the Atlanta Harlequins and the Seattle Rugby Club, as well as the United States women's national rugby union team.
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Commissioned as an army officer in 2002, McClain qualified as a pilot for the Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter. Her military service included a 15-month deployment to the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where she flew 216 combat missions totaling 800 hours. She subsequently served in various command and instructional roles at Fort Rucker and Wheeler Army Airfield. In 2013, she graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School, having logged over 2,000 hours in aircraft including the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota, and the Beechcraft C-12 Huron.
NASA Expeditions
Selected as part of Astronaut Group 21 in 2013, McClain completed her training in 2015. Her first spaceflight occurred in December 2018 aboard Soyuz MS-11, where she served as a flight engineer for Expedition 58 and Expedition 59. During this mission, she performed two extravehicular activities, totaling over 13 hours outside the station. In 2020, she was designated an Artemis astronaut. She later served as commander for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station, which launched in March 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Spokane, United States
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: United States Military Academy (2002)
- NASA Selection: 2013
- Primary Aircraft: OH-58 Kiowa Warrior
- Call Sign: Annimal
Questions readers ask
What military medals has Anne McClain received?
Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Air Medal.
Did McClain play rugby professionally?
She played for clubs like the Clifton Rugby Football Club in England and earned her first cap for the United States women's national team in 2004.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Bristol, United States Military Academy and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as astronaut, helicopter pilot and test pilot
