An experienced NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force commander and aerospace executive, Lieutenant General (retired) Susan Helms brings tremendous depth and expertise to Stellar Solutions as a Stellar Advisor.
General Helms was commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in 1980 with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, and she later earned an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. She is also a distinguished graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School.
Selected by NASA in January 1990, General Helms became an astronaut in July 1991. On January 13, 1993, then an Air Force major and a member of the space shuttle Endeavour crew, she became the first U.S. military woman in space. She flew on STS-54 (1993), STS-64 (1994), STS-78 (1996), and STS-101 (2000), and served aboard the International Space Station as a member of the Expedition-2 crew (2001). A veteran of five space flights, General Helms has logged 211 days in space, including a spacewalk of eight hours and 56 minutes, a world record.
She has also commanded the 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral, FL, and was the Director of Plans and Policy for U.S. Strategic Command. She concluded her 36 years of military service as the dual-hatted Commander of both the 14th Air Force, and the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command.
General Helms received the R.L. Jones Award for Top Engineer Graduate at the USAF Test Pilot School. She has also been recognized for her overall accomplishments in the space professional community including: Women of Aerospace Outstanding Achievement Award (2002), Thomas D. White Space Award for Outstanding Contributions to Space (2008), and Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductee (2011).
General Helms’ exceptionally unique qualifications and skills in aerospace engineering, astronautics, space operations, project management and strategic planning make her invaluable as a Stellar Advisor supporting customer critical needs.
Security Clearance: TS/SCI eligible
USAF Military bio: available here
