Major Marcos Berríos reported for duty with NASA in January 2022 after his selection as a member of the 2021 Astronaut Group 23. A United States Air Force pilot and mechanical engineer, his career spans from combat rescue missions to experimental flight testing, representing a transition from terrestrial aviation to the requirements of future deep space exploration programs.
Academic Background
Berríos graduated from Antilles High School in Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. His formal education includes a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He continued his studies at Stanford University, where he earned both a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Additionally, he completed the United States Naval Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.
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Commissioned in the United States Air Force, Berríos completed initial flight training in 2008. By 2011, he began his operational career with the 129th Rescue Wing in California, serving as an HH-60G Combat Search and Rescue helicopter pilot. During his military tenure, he worked as an aerospace engineer for the U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate and served as the commander of Detachment 1, 413th Flight Test Squadron. Throughout his service, he accumulated over 1,300 flight hours across 21 different aircraft types and participated in more than 110 combat missions.
Astronaut Selection
On December 6, 2021, NASA identified Berríos as one of the ten candidates for Astronaut Group 23. At the time of his selection, he held the rank of major while serving as the deputy director of the Combat Search and Rescue Combined Task Force and commander of Detachment 1 for the 413th Flight Test Squadron.
Distinctions
His service record includes the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. He also earned the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with a gold border. His professional achievements are further recognized through the Gates Millennium Scholars program and the NASA Group Achievement Award.
Fast facts
- Born: 1984, Fort Campbell
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University
- Military Rank: Major
- Flight Experience: Over 1,300 hours
- Combat Missions: Over 110
- NASA Selection: Group 23 (2021)
Questions readers ask
What is the primary role of Marcos Berríos in the military?
He served as a major in the United States Air Force, functioning as a combat search and rescue helicopter pilot and later as a flight test squadron commander.
What academic credentials does Berríos hold?
He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from MIT, and a master's degree and doctorate in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.
Achievements
- Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
- Commendation Medal
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- NASA Group Achievement Award
- Recorded as astronaut
