Commanding over 1,700 flight hours across 25 different aircraft, Neil W. Woodward III transitioned from a career in naval aviation to a position within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His professional trajectory spans from experimental test piloting and combat operations to the strategic management of commercial orbital logistics during the early twenty-first century.
Academic Background
Born in Chicago in 1962, Woodward spent his formative years in Oklahoma City, graduating from Putnam City High School in 1980. He pursued physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completing his undergraduate degree in 1984. His academic interests later shifted toward plasma physics; at the University of Texas at Austin, he conducted thesis research using optical spectroscopy to examine neoclassical plasma rotation within the Texas Experimental Tokamak. He secured a master's degree in physics in 1988. Years later, in 2000, he attained a second master's degree in engineering management from George Washington University.
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Woodward initiated his naval career in 1989 after reporting to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. By March 1990, he had earned his wings as a naval flight officer. He underwent initial training on the A-6E Intruder at NAS Whidbey Island before joining Attack Squadron 95. He conducted two deployments aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, supporting operations including Southern Watch and missions in Somalia. After serving as a weaponeering officer at the Naval Strike Warfare Center in Nevada, he entered the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River. Graduating with distinction in 1996, he joined the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron. During this period, he performed flight tests on F/A-18 variants, accumulating 265 arrested landings.
NASA Career and Transition
NASA selected Woodward for its astronaut program in June 1998. His initial phase involved rigorous instruction in International Space Station systems, T-38 flight training, and survival techniques. By 2004, his focus moved toward program management. He served a four-year stint at NASA headquarters within the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. His responsibilities included directing the ESMD Integration Office and overseeing the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. In October 2008, he retired from both the Navy and the space agency, subsequently entering the information technology sector through an appointment at Amazon.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Chicago, Illinois
- Military Rank: Commander
- Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, George Washington University
- Flight Experience: 1,700+ hours in 25+ aircraft
- Selected as NASA Astronaut: June 1998
- Current Occupation: Information technology
- Notable Recognition: Distinguished graduate, US Naval Test Pilot School
Questions readers ask
What aircraft did Neil Woodward test during his career?
He cross-trained in the F/A-18 Hornet and conducted tests on the F/A-18B, F/A-18D, and F/A-18F models.
What was his role at NASA headquarters?
He served as the director of the ESMD Integration Office and director of Commercial Orbital Transportation Services from 2004 to 2008.
Achievements
- Recorded as military officer and astronaut
