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ONEONTA, N.Y. --
Ronald Garan,
a NASA astronaut who earned his bachelor's degree from the SUNY College at
Oneonta in 1982, will return to his alma mater to speak about his
experiences on Monday, October 20, at 7 p.m. in Lecture Hall 3 of the
Instructional Resources Center. Admission to the event is complimentary, and
members of the community are invited to attend.
Colonel Garan will also speak with SUNY Oneonta students on Monday
afternoon in the Instructional Resources Center. At 3 p.m. in the Physical
Science Building, he will hold an open meeting for students and faculty
entitled "Conversations with an Astronaut."
Air Force Colonel Garan served as a Mission Specialist aboard the Space
Shuttle Discovery during its mission to the International Space Station in
June of this year. The shuttle delivered the Japanese Experiment
Module-Pressurized Module and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System to the
station. Shuttle astronauts delivered the 37-foot Kibo lab and added its
rooftop storage room.
On the mission, Garan completed three space walks for a total of more
than 20 hours. He worked on maintaining the station and priming the new
Japanese module's robotic arm for work during the nine days that the shuttle
was docked at the orbiting laboratory.
Colonel Garan was selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000. After the
completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned
technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station and Shuttle Operations
Branches.
In April of 2006, Garan became an aquanaut through his participation in
the joint NASA-NOAA, NEEMO 9 (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation),
an exploration research mission held in Aquarius, the world's only undersea
research laboratory. During this 18-day mission, the six-person crew of
NEEMO 9 developed lunar surface exploration procedures and telemedical
technology applications in support of the nation's Vision for Space
Exploration.
Ronald Garan received the Distinguished Graduate and Top Academic Award
from USAF Fighter Weapons School; was twice selected Top Academic Instructor
Pilot at the USAF Weapons School; received the Lt. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault
Award at the USAF Weapons School and USAF Weapons and Tactics Center; was
named a Distinguished Graduate of Officers School; and received the Top
Academic Award in the F-16 Replacement Training Unit.
Garan's military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross for
Combat Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement
Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for Valor, National Defense Service
Medal, Humanitarian Service Award, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and various
other service awards. He also received the NASA Superior Accomplishment
Award and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Award.
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