Leland Devon Melvin

Leland Devon Melvin (born February 15, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129. Melvin was named the NASA Associate Administrator for Education in October 2010.

Melvin attended Heritage High School and then went on to the University of Richmond on a football scholarship, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. In 1991 he received a Master of Science degree in Materials Science Engineering, from the University of Virginia. His parents, Deems and Grace Melvin, reside in Lynchburg, Virginia. His recreational interests include photography, piano, reading, music, cycling, tennis, and snowboarding. Melvin appeared as an elimination challenge guest judge in the 12th episode of Top Chef (season 7), with his dogs in the seventh season of The Dog Whisperer., and was the host of Child Genius (season 1 and 2). He is the president of the Spaceship Earth Grants, a public benefit corporation whose mission is to make space more accessible through human spaceflight and parabolic flight awards to individual applicants.

Nationality: American

Status: Retired

Born: February 15, 1964

Time in space: 23d 13h 28 m

Selection: 1998 NASA Group

Missions: STS-122, STS-129

Source: Wikipedia