Jeanette Epps, PhD, is an aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut. She earned her PhD in aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland. Several of her journal papers from her graduate research are highly referenced. After graduating, Epps worked first at the Ford Motor Company and then joined the Central Intellgence Agency as a Technical Intelligence Officer. At age 38, she applied and was chosen as one of nine members of astronaut candidate Group 20 in 2009. Among her training, Epps completed the European Space Agency CAVES training program, becoming the second woman and first Black woman to do so. On March 4, 2024, Epps reached the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour. She spent 235 days on the ISS, setting the record for the longest duration in space by an African American to date. Epps retired from NASA in May of 2025.
