Leland Melvin

About

Notable for his participation in the Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 and STS-129 missions, this American astronaut became NASA's Associate Education Administrator in late 2010.

Before Fame

Following a distinguished collegiate athletic career as a member of the University of Richmond's Spiders football team, Melvin was drafted by the NFL team the Detroit Lions; however, a hamstring injury ended his career. He began his work for NASA in the Langley Research Center's Nondestructive Testing department and commenced his astronaut training in 1998.

Trivia

He appeared in episodes of the reality television programs The Dog Whisperer and Top Chef.

Family Life

He was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, and he later lived and worked for NASA in both Hampton, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Associated With

He and Alvin Drew are both notable African-American NASA astronauts.