Michael J. Bloomfield
{{Short description|American astronaut (born 1959)}}
{{For|the musician|Mike Bloomfield}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Michael Bloomfield
|image = Michael Bloomfield.jpg
|birth_name = Michael John Bloomfield
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|3|16}}
|birth_place = Flint, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|other_names = Bloomer
|education = United States Air Force Academy (BS)
Old Dominion University (MS)
|type = NASA astronaut
|time = 32d 11h 2m
|selection = NASA Group 15 (1994)
|mission = STS-86
STS-97
STS-110
}}
Michael John "Bloomer" Bloomfield (born March 16, 1959) is an American former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions.
Early life and education
Born in Flint and raised in Lake Fenton, Michigan, Bloomfield received his bachelor's degree in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy, where he played Falcons football for coach Bill Parcells and was the team's captain.{{cite web|title=Academy Names Col. Mike Bloomfield Director of Athletics |date=March 1, 2004|url=https://goairforcefalcons.com/news/2004/3/1/Academy_Names_Col_Mike_Bloomfield_Director_of_Athletics |website=goairforcefalcons.com |access-date=March 16, 2025}} He became an F-15 fighter pilot with the rare combination of having graduated the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC, pronounced 'Fwick') and then selected as a test pilot (assigned to the F-16 test squadron at Edwards AFB). He earned his master's degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University in 1993.
NASA career
Selected by NASA in December 1994, Bloomfield reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He worked as Chief of Safety for the Astronaut Office, Chief Instructor Astronaut, Director of Shuttle Operations, and Chief of the Shuttle Branch, which oversees all Shuttle technical issues for the Astronaut Office.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/bloomfield_michael.pdf |title=Michael J. Bloomfield (Colonel, USAF, RET.) NASA Astronaut (Former)|publisher=NASA |date=September 2007|access-date=January 9, 2021}}
He first flew as a pilot aboard STS-86 in 1997, where he docked with the space station Mir.{{cite web|title=NASA STS-86 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-86/|website=NASA|access-date=March 16, 2025}} Bloomfield also piloted STS-97 in 2000 and commanded STS-110 in 2002, both missions to the International Space Station.{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/bloomfield_michael.htm |title=Spacefacts biography of Michael J. Bloomfield|website=spacefacts.de|access-date=March 16, 2025}}
In 2006, Bloomfield served as Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He resigned from NASA in July 2007.{{cite news|title=Veteran Astronaut Michael Bloomfield Leaves NASA|date=July 13, 2007 |url=https://spacenews.com/veteran-astronaut-michael-bloomfield-leaves-nasa/ |publisher=SpaceNews |access-date=March 16, 2025}}
Post-NASA career
In October 2007, Bloomfield joined ATK as Vice President of the Constellation Program.{{cite web|title=Mike Bloomfield Joins ATK As VP Of Constellation Systems|date=October 4, 2007 |url=https://www.aero-news.net/Subscribe.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=FE676603-B9A6-4AD3-9FD3-BEC26D805F2D|website=aero-news.net |access-date=March 16, 2025}} In December 2010, Bloomfiel joined Oceaneering as its Vice President and General Manager of Oceaneering Space Systems.{{cite news|title=Michael J. Bloomfield Joins Oceaneering|date=December 16, 2010 |url=https://spacenews.com/michael-j-bloomfield-joins-oceaneering/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=March 16, 2025}}
He currently serves on the board of directors at Space Center Houston{{cite web | url=https://spacecenter.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ | title=Space Center Houston Board of Directors| publisher = The Manned Space Flight Education Foundation | work = Space Center Houston | year = 2024 |access-date=March 17, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240919150053/https://spacecenter.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ | archive-date =September 19, 2024 | url-status = live}} and resides in suburban Houston, Texas.{{cite news|title=Coming home - Former NASA astronaut visits area |first1=Jan | last1 = Rynearson |date=November 25, 2008 |url=https://www.tctimes.com/living/coming-home/article_25754633-e3b8-5a1f-80d4-e9b73f01e9a6.html|work=Tri-County Times| publisher = View Newspaper Group | location = Fenton, Michigan |access-date=March 17, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250317173259/https://www.tctimes.com/living/coming-home/article_25754633-e3b8-5a1f-80d4-e9b73f01e9a6.html | archive-date = March 17, 2025 | url-status = live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 15}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloomfield, Michael J.}}
Category:People from Flint, Michigan
Category:Aviators from Michigan
Category:Air Force Falcons football players
Category:Military personnel from Michigan
Category:Old Dominion University alumni
Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni
Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni
Category:United States Air Force astronauts
Category:United States Air Force officers