Jonny Kim#U.S. Navy

{{short description|American sailor, physician, and astronaut (born 1984)}}

{{about|the American sailor, physician, and astronaut|the South Korean film producer|Jonathan Kim}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jonny Kim

| image = Expedition 73 (jsc2024e067210 alt).jpg

| alt = NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, an Asian man in a blue flight suit, is in front of a dark background.

| caption = Kim in October 2024

| birth_name = Jonathan Yong Kim

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|02|05|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| education = {{unbulleted list|University of San Diego (BA)|Harvard University (MD)}}

| children = 3

| module = {{Infobox astronaut

| child = yes

| type = NASA astronaut

| space_time = {{time in space|2025-04-08 05:47|00|00|00|refresh=yes}}

| selection = NASA Group 22 (2017)

| mission = Soyuz MS-27
{{spaces}}(Expedition 72/73)

| insignia = 45px 45px

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox military person |embed=yes

| branch = United States Navy

| branch_label = Branch

| serviceyears = 2002–present

| serviceyears_label = Years

| rank = Lieutenant commander

| unit = {{unbulleted list|SEAL Team 3|Navy Medical Corps}}

| battles = Iraq War

| battles_label = Conflicts

| awards = Silver Star

}}

Jonathan Yong "Jonny" Kim (born 5 February 1984) is an American astronaut with NASA, physician, U.S. Navy officer, flight surgeon, naval aviator, and former Navy SEAL.

Born in Los Angeles to South Korean immigrants, Kim enlisted in the Navy in 2002. He joined SEAL Team 3 and participated in over 100 combat missions in the Middle East as a combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man. He has earned a Silver Star and Bronze Star (with V device), and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. While a sailor, Kim also earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics with distinction, and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School. In 2017, Kim was selected to join NASA Astronaut Group 22. He launched with Expedition 72/73 to the International Space Station on 8 April 2025.

Personal life and education

Jonathan Yong Kim was born on 5 February 1984 in Los Angeles, California. His parents emigrated from South Korea to the United States in the early 1980s, and his father had scarcely completed a high-school education. The family opened a liquor store in South Los Angeles, and his mother worked as a substitute elementary school teacher while raising Kim and his younger brother. In a 2018 interview with Annals of Emergency Medicine, Kim described himself as "the epitome of that quiet kid who just lacked complete self-confidence." In 2020, The Chosun Ilbo reported that the adolescent Kim had been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of his father; in February 2002, after threatening his family with a gun, Kim's father was shot to death in his attic by police.

At Santa Monica High School, Kim received high grades in his classes, including several Advanced Placements, while participating in swimming and water polo; he graduated in 2002. Kim received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in mathematics from the University of San Diego in 2012, and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School in 2016. Kim was a Pat Tillman Foundation "Tillman Scholar" selectee. In 2017, Kim completed his medical internship in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

{{as of|2020|01}}, Kim is married with three children.

Career

=U.S. Navy=

Kim learned about and decided to become a Navy SEAL at age 16, investing his remaining high-school years physically conditioning himself for the rigors of Special Warfare training. Of this decision, Kim said, "Going into the Navy was the best decision I ever made in my life because it completely transformed that scared boy who didn't have any dreams to someone who started to believe in himself."

After enlisting with the United States Navy in 2002 as a seaman recruit, Kim graduated BUD/S class 247 and was assigned to SEAL Team 3 with the rating Special Warfare Operator. He deployed twice to the Middle East and participated in over 100 combat missions as a combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man. During his tenure with the SEALs, Kim served with PO2s Marc Alan Lee and Michael A. Monsoor. In 2009, Kim was accepted to the STA-21 commissioning program; when he graduated from the University of San Diego in 2012 and left the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Kim entered the Medical Corps.

File:Jonny Kim SEAL Team 3 40th Anniversary Speech (cropped).webp ceremony in August 2023]]

On 6 June 2022, Kim completed his first solo flight in a Beechcraft T-6 Texan II at the Naval Air Training Command, part of a common training regimen for U.S. Navy{{spaced en dash}}NASA astronauts who lacked previous military pilot experience. After further training on the Northrop T-38 Talon and TH-57 helicopter, Kim formally completed his flight training in March 2023 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, receiving the rare dual-designation as both a flight surgeon and naval aviator.

Kim is a recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal (with Combat "V"), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat "V"), and Combat Action Ribbon. According to Jocko Willink, Kim's Silver Star was awarded for rescuing multiple wounded Iraqi soldiers in the face of enemy fire. {{as of|2023|07}}, Kim is still described as a naval officer with the rank of lieutenant commander.

=NASA=

File:2017 class of NASA astronauts with Jim Bridenstine (cropped).jpg Jim Bridenstine (2018). Kim is visible in the upper left corner.|alt=]]

While studying at Harvard Medical School, Kim met and was inspired by astronaut–physician Scott E. Parazynski to apply for Astronaut Candidacy. On 7 June 2017, Kim was one of twelve candidates chosen from a pool of over 18,300 applicants to join NASA Astronaut Group 22. He reported for duty on 21 August 2017, and graduated from training on 10 January 2020.

According to NASA, Kim will work in the Astronaut Office while awaiting a flight assignment. In 2020, Kim began working as a capsule communicator at the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center. On 9 December 2020, NASA formally announced that Kim would join 17 other astronauts in training for early Moon landing missions of the Artemis program. In July 2023, he was serving as operations officer, supporting crew operations. In August 2024, NASA announced that Kim was scheduled as a member of the Expedition 72/73 crew to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Expedition 72/73 crew—Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky—launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, on 8 April 2025 at 10:47 a.m. (UTC+05:00); they docked with Prichal three hours and ten minutes later. Kim was tasked to "conduct scientific research in technology development, Earth science, biology, human research, and more."

Awards and decorations

As of August 2023, Kim is known to have earned the following decorations.{{Cite web |title=An Enduring Legacy: SEAL Team THREE Celebrates 40 Years |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7964793/enduring-legacy-seal-team-three-celebrates-40-years |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

| colspan="3" |250x250px

colspan="3" |250x250px

colspan="3" |{{Ribbon devices|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|type=V|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|other_device=v}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|other_device=|number=2|type=service-star}}

{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg|width=106}}

colspan="3" |250x250px

colspan="3" |220x220px

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

| colspan="4" |Special Warfare insignia

colspan="4" |Naval aviator insignia

colspan="2" |Silver Star

| colspan="2" |Bronze Star Medal
with Combat V

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
with Combat V

| colspan="2" |Combat Action Ribbon

|Navy Good Conduct Medal
with 2 service stars

National Defense Service Medal

| colspan="2" |Iraq Campaign Medal
with 2 service stars

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
with service star

| colspan="2" |Navy Expert Rifleman Medal

|Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

colspan="4" |Naval flight surgeon badge

colspan="4" |Naval parachutist badge

References

{{reflist |refs=

{{cite news |last1=Harwood |first1=William |date=2017-06-07 |title=NASA introduces 12 new astronauts |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-new-astronauts/ |url-status=live |language=en |publisher=CBS News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081814/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-new-astronauts/ |archive-date=2018-09-11 |access-date=2020-01-15}}

{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Alvin |date=2017-07-21 |title=SEAL-tested, NASA-approved |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/07/med-school-grad-to-trade-scrubs-for-space-suit/ |url-status=live |work=Harvard Gazette |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301005622/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/07/med-school-grad-to-trade-scrubs-for-space-suit/ |archive-date=2019-03-01 |access-date=2019-05-07 |quote=Harvard Medical School grad to depart residency for astronaut training}}

{{cite AV media |last1=Kim |first1=Jonny |date=2017-08-22 |title=Jonny Kim/NASA 2017 Astronaut Candidate |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfn6Ka6nGYg |access-date=2019-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317200332/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfn6Ka6nGYg |archive-date=2018-03-17 |publisher=Johnson Space Center |url-status=live}}

{{cite journal |last1=Faust |first1=Jeremy S. |date=March 2018 |editor1-last=Milling Jr |editor1-first=Truman J. |title=Annals Q&A With Dr. Jonny Kim |journal=Annals of Emergency Medicine |language=en |publisher=American College of Emergency Physicians |volume=71 |issue=3 |pages=A13–A16 |doi=10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.01.034 |issn=0196-0644 |lccn=80643758 |oclc=5729547|doi-access=free }}

{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Seth |date=2020-01-15 |title=Navy SEAL with Harvard medical degree becomes NASA astronaut |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-seal-with-harvard-medical-degree-becomes-nasa-astronaut-1.614854 |url-status=live |work=Stars and Stripes |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116141552/https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-seal-with-harvard-medical-degree-becomes-nasa-astronaut-1.614854 |archive-date=2020-01-16 |access-date=2024-01-19}}

{{cite news |last1=Choi |first1=David |date=2020-01-17 |title=How an insecure teenager became a NASA-trained Navy SEAL, and convinced his Korean-American mom to allow him to join the military |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jonny-kim-korean-american-nasa-navy-seal-los-angeles-2020-1 |url-status=live |work=Business Insider |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119210314/https://www.businessinsider.com/jonny-kim-korean-american-nasa-navy-seal-los-angeles-2020-1 |archive-date=2020-01-19 |access-date=2020-01-21}}

{{cite news |last1=Choi |first1=David |date=2020-01-18 |title=This Harvard-educated, NASA-qualified, Navy SEAL gives his kids this simple advice every day |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jonny-kim-career-navy-seal-nasa-astronaut-harvard-doctor-kids-2020-1 |url-status=live |work=Business Insider |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117152838/https://www.businessinsider.com/jonny-kim-career-navy-seal-nasa-astronaut-harvard-doctor-kids-2020-1 |archive-date=2020-01-17 |access-date=2024-01-19}}

{{cite podcast |last=Willink |first=John Gretton "Jocko" |author-link=Jocko Willink |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yujP3-AxXsI |title=Jocko Podcast 221: Jonny Kim. Navy SEAL, Doctor, Astronaut. The Unimaginable Path. |publisher=YouTube |date=2020-03-18 |access-date=2020-03-26 |archive-date=2021-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422080145/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yujP3-AxXsI |url-status=live}}

{{cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Eui-jun |date=2020-08-10 |script-title=ko:'가정폭력 아버지, 경찰에 피살' 韓人 첫 NASA 우주인의 고백 |trans-title='Father of Domestic Violence, Police Killed' Confession of First Korean NASA Astronaut |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/10/2020081000395.html |url-status=live |work=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819025051/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/10/2020081000395.html |archive-date=2020-08-19 |access-date=2020-08-18 |quote=This January, Johnny Kim became an astronaut on NASA's Mars expedition. Confessions of a Childhood Abused by His Father}}

{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Gary |date=2020-12-09 |title=NASA picks 4 San Diego university graduates to train for missions to the moon |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2020-12-09/nasa-includes-2-uc-san-diego-graduates |url-status=live |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en |issn=1063-102X |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214062849/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2020-12-09/nasa-includes-2-uc-san-diego-graduates |archive-date=2020-12-14 |access-date=2020-12-16}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jonny-kim/biography |title=Astronaut Jonny Kim |date=March 2022 |editor-last=Tonnessen |editor-first=Heather |publisher=NASA |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306184845/https://www.nasa.gov/content/jonny-kim-md-lcdr-us-navy-nasa-astronaut/ |archive-date=2022-03-06 |url-status=dead |access-date=2022-03-06}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/seal-doctor-astronaut-jonny-kim-is-adding-pilot-to-his-crazy-resume |title=SEAL-Doctor-Astronaut Jonny Kim Is Adding Pilot To His Crazy Resume |last=Altman |first=Howard |date=2022-06-09 |website=The War Zone |language=en |access-date=2022-07-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715191033/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/seal-doctor-astronaut-jonny-kim-is-adding-pilot-to-his-crazy-resume |archive-date=2022-07-15 |quote=The 'wouldn't believe it if it weren't true' list of accomplishments of Astronaut Jonny Kim keeps growing. Now he’s becoming a pilot.}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/442730/nasa-astronaut-and-former-seal-completes-navy-flight-training |title=NASA Astronaut and former SEAL completes Navy Flight Training |date=2023-04-17 |publisher=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service |location=Corpus Christi, Texas |language=en |access-date=2023-04-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418121735/https://www.dvidshub.net/news/442730/nasa-astronaut-and-former-seal-completes-navy-flight-training |archive-date=2023-04-18}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/kim-jb.pdf |title=Astronaut Biography: Jonny Kim |date=July 2023 |publisher=NASA |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012173844/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/kim-jb.pdf |archive-date=2023-10-12 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-04-22}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-assigns-astronaut-jonny-kim-to-first-space-station-mission/ |title=NASA Assigns Astronaut Jonny Kim to First Space Station Mission |last=Doyle |first=Tiernan P. |date=2024-08-28 |publisher=NASA |language=en |access-date=2024-08-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830012551/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-assigns-astronaut-jonny-kim-to-first-space-station-mission/ |archive-date=2024-08-30}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-crewmates-arrive-safely-at-space-station/ |title=NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station |last=Donaldson |first=Abbey A. |date=2025-04-08 |publisher=NASA |language=en |access-date=2025-04-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410043247/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-crewmates-arrive-safely-at-space-station/ |archive-date=2025-04-10}}

{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/315824 |title=Jonathan Yong Kim |work=Military Times |language=en |access-date=2022-04-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005124734/https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/315824 |archive-date=2021-10-05}}

}}