Scott D. Tingle launched into space aboard Soyuz MS-07 in December 2017, serving as a flight engineer for ISS Expedition 54 and 55. A veteran naval officer and test pilot, he logged over 4,500 flight hours across 51 aircraft types before transitioning to a pivotal management role overseeing the entire NASA Astronaut Corps.
Early Education and Naval Career
Born in 1965 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Tingle graduated from Blue Hills Regional Technical School in 1983. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1987 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1988. Commissioned as a naval officer in 1991, he completed flight training at NAS Pensacola. As a naval aviator, Tingle participated in combat missions in the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific. He graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School in 1998 and conducted developmental testing at China Lake, California, before serving as a Landing Signal Officer aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
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Selected for NASA Astronaut Group 20 in 2009, Tingle underwent technical training involving Soyuz systems and wilderness survival. In 2014, he participated in the ESA CAVES training program in Sardinia. During his tenure on the International Space Station, he performed a 7-hour and 24-minute spacewalk on January 23, 2018, alongside Mark Vande Hei to replace a latching end effector on the Canadarm2. He concluded his 168-day mission, returning to Earth in June 2018.
Leadership at the Astronaut Office
In November 2025, Tingle was appointed the 19th Chief of the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center. This leadership position, which governs the management of the NASA Astronaut Corps, rendered him ineligible for future flight assignments. Throughout his career, he has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, and six Navy Commendation Medals.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Attleboro, Massachusetts
- Military Rank: Commander
- Selected as Astronaut: 2009
- ISS Expeditions: 54 and 55
- Flight Hours: Over 4,500
- Combat Missions: 54
- Appointed Chief of the Astronaut Office: November 2025
Questions readers ask
What is Scott Tingle's current role at NASA?
He serves as the Chief of the Astronaut Office, a management position where he leads the NASA Astronaut Corps.
Did Scott Tingle perform any spacewalks?
Yes, he performed one EVA on January 23, 2018, to replace components on the Canadarm2.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Purdue University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Blue Hills Regional Technical School
- Worked as astronaut and military officer
