Jonny Kim earned the Silver Star medal and the Bronze Star medal with the U.S. Navy special forces (SEALs) and his doctorate in medicine from Harvard University Medical School. Now he’s going to go even further as a graduate of NASA’s Artemis program: the International Space Station, the moon and maybe even Mars.
Kim, born to South Korean immigrants to the U.S., first enlisted in the Navy upon graduating from high school. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego. He was a resident physician in Massachusetts when he became a part of the 2017 NASA astronaut class.
“We know there are many qualified and deserving candidates out there — we’re the lucky ones to represent humanity,” Kim tweeted. “Let’s work towards a better future for our world and our children.”
Congratulations! Dr. @JonnyYKim, former enlisted #NavySEAL member, math degree holder @uofsandiego, & @harvardmed alumnus, for becoming the 1st Korean-American @NASA astronaut to embark on assignments to the @Space_Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and potentially Mars! pic.twitter.com/WbANp3aHKA
— U.S. Embassy Seoul (@USEmbassySeoul) January 13, 2020
