JONNY KIM: MEET THE ASTRONAUT, FORMER SEAL, AND AVIATOR


By bblouin
Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim, a former SEAL Team THREE member and current NASA astronaut, speaks during SEAL Team THREE’s 40th anniversary commemoration ceremony onboard Silver Strand Training Complex

Anyone willing to put on a uniform for the American Armed Forces is a hero for our nation. With that being said, if you haven’t heard about Jonny Kim, it’s about time you give the man his due. You see, the Harvard Medical School graduate who went on to become an aviator and flight surgeon is also a former Navy SEAL. On top of it all, Jonny Kim and his wife somehow find time to raise three children with his growing number of titles. It pretty much doesn’t matter, if you can do it, Kim probably has, and if he hasn’t, it won’t be long. This includes going to space. A reality that is finally coming for a man of many exceptional talents in 2025.

Jonny Kim Is Going to Space

Jonny Kim hadn’t gone to space yet, one of the few things he couldn’t add to his impressive resume, however, this is now changing. That’s because Jonny Kim, astronaut extraordinaire, was waiting for his first flight assignment with the Artemis program, and now, he’s set to soar into the heavens in 2025.During Jonny Kim’s education at Harvard, he met AstronautScott E. Parazynski who helped inspire the career path.Out of the 18,300+ in 2017 who attempted to join NASA Astronaut Group 22, Kim was successfully selected as one of the twelve.Jonny Kim’s NASA career began in January 2020, he graduated from his training and continued at the NASA Astronaut Corps in Houston, TX, as one of 18 candidates landing on the moon.Now, Lt. Cmdr. Kim will be making his journey to the final frontier in March 2025 on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, alongside cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.

His NASA Mission

For eight months, Kim and the other two men will be calling the International Space Station (ISS) home.It’s a scientific mission in which Dr. Kim will be a part of the Expedition 72/73 crew, helping with various tasks and investigations to determine solutions for personnel taking on future missions.This all comes after Kim finished training for advanced helicopters in 2023, further preparing him for heading into space.Experts agree that aviation and space travel, while different, have plenty of important similarities that translate well.

What Can’t He Do?

With so much accomplished in his life, it’s fair to say that there simply isn’t anything impossible for Kim, especially, now that he’s officially part of a project in space.However, getting to this point didn’t come easy and his triumphs are a celebration to not simply succumb to your surroundings. Jonathan Yong Kim suffered a rough childhood that someone, like myself, who doesn’t know him personally should probably just let be as such. Whatever it was, it stands to say that such an environment is less than ideal to provide anyone with a foundation for success. However, Kim chose to overcome such circumstances and would end up thriving academically. First pursuing mathematics and eventually becoming a doctor. This went on after a teenage Kim decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Rather than remain insecure, Jonny Kim started to grow confidence from working out in preparation for life as a Sailor with the dream of operating in Special Warfare. Once joining SEAL Team 3, Kim would serve a variety of roles, including as a sniper and medic. As mentioned above, Kim thrived in his roles but was still inspired to pursue exploring the heavens. After earning a Silver Star in the War in Iraq, Lt. Cmdr. Kim went after the role of astronaut, where he continues to train now. This is obviously an abridged version of his resume and it’s still stronger than most. Still, the man wasn’t (and isn’t) done. That’s because, in 2023, Kim completed Navy Flight Training. Now, not only is Kim a flight surgeon but he’s also a naval aviator. This means that if there is an engine out on an aircraft or a medical emergency on board, Kim is possibly the most qualified person available for both jobs.

Does Jonny Kim Have a Book?

Alas, maybe there is one thing missing from Jonny Kim’s resume: author. There is no Jonny Kim book just yet. Perhaps it’s due to an avoidance of the limelight and simply doing one’s duty, or maybe he simply hasn’t had the time or interest. Interests can change; however, maybe one day we will get an autobiography. Then again, if it’s due to a lack of time, one could certainly understand how that might be when you have so many impressive commitments already. Jonny Kim doesn’t do it alone. His actions are in conjunction with those defending our nation and pushing it forward each day. Yet, Kim’s inspiring skill and work ethic are a reminder to us all that the sky is the limit, and even then, maybe not. Read next:


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