Ronald J. Garan Jr.Status: Retired 10/30/1961 – Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 5/31/2008 Last Flight: 4/4/2011Ronald John Garan Jr. is a NASA astronaut. After graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1982, he joined the Air Force, becoming a Second Lieutenant in 1984. He became an F-16 pilot, and flew combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Before becoming an astronaut he was the Operations Officer of the 40th Flight Test Squadron (FTS). He first flew in space as a Mission Specialist on the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He returned to ISS on April 4, 2011, for a six-month stay as a member of Expedition 27.LaunchesSpace Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-124Soyuz FG | Soyuz TMA-21National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationType: Government Abbreviation: NASA Administration: Administrator: Bill Nelson Founded: 1958 Launchers: Space Shuttle | SLS Spacecraft: Orion Country: USAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.