Born: 1965 (Euclid, Ohio)
Biography:
Sunita Lyn Williams, also known as Suni in the United States and Sonka in Slovenia, is an American astronaut and United States Navy officer. She was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, to Deepak Pandya, an Indian American neuroanatomist, and Bonnie (Zalokar) Pandya, a Slovene American. Williams grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, as the youngest of three children, with an older brother named Jay Thomas and an older sister named Dina Annad.
Williams comes from a diverse heritage. Her paternal family hails from Jhulasan in the Mehsana district in Gujarat, India, while her maternal family is of Slovene descent. As a proud representation of her Indian and Slovenian heritage, Williams has taken the Slovenian flag, a samosa, and Carniolan sausage to space on her missions.
Education played a crucial role in Williams’ journey to becoming an astronaut. She graduated from Needham High School in 1983 and went on to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. Determined to continue her academic pursuits, she earned a Master of Science degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.
After completing her education, Williams began her military career and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy in May 1987. She started at the Naval Coastal System Command before being designated a Basic Diving Officer. Following that, she received training as a Naval Aviator in July 1989 and joined the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 (HC-8) in Norfolk, Virginia.
Williams’s skills and dedication as a helicopter pilot proved invaluable during overseas deployments. She served in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, participating in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort. Her devotion to duty shone brightly during Hurricane Andrew, where she led an H-46 detachment for relief operations aboard the USS Sylvania.
In her pursuit of excellence, Williams attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and graduated in December 1993. She then became an H-46 Project Officer and V-22 chase pilot in the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate. Her responsibilities expanded to include serving as the squadron Safety Officer and flying test flights in various helicopters, including the SH-60B/F, UH-1, AH-1W, SH-2, VH-3, H-46, CH-53, and H-57.
Williams’ unwavering commitment to the Navy led her back to the Naval Test Pilot School in December 1995, this time as an instructor in the Rotary Wing Department and as the school’s Safety Officer. During her time there, she applied her expertise to flying the UH-60 and OH-6 helicopters.
In addition to her military achievements, Williams holds several remarkable records in space exploration. She was a member of Expedition 14 and Expedition 15, during which she served on the International Space Station (ISS). Williams holds the record for most spacewalks by a woman, with a total of seven. Furthermore, she has spent the most time on spacewalks for a woman, accumulating 50 hours and 40 minutes outside the ISS.
In 2012, Williams had the honorable opportunity to be a flight engineer on Expedition 32 and subsequently became the commander of Expedition 33. Throughout her space missions, she has continually inspired people worldwide by showcasing the strength and determination of women in the field of astronautics.
Sunita Williams’ incredible achievements have made a profound impact on society. Her accomplishments serve as a testament to the power of perseverance and the boundless potential of women in the pursuit of scientific exploration. As a role model for future generations, Williams has played a significant role in shaping women’s history and inspiring countless individuals to reach for the stars.
Awards:
– NASA Space Flight Medal
– NASA Distinguished Service Medal
– NASA Exceptional Service Medal
– Navy Commendation Medal
– Navy Achievement Medal
– American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Christine M. Csango Memorial Space Flight Award