Jonny Kim is a decorated United States Navy Reserve lieutenant, physician, and NASA astronaut. While still awaiting his flight assignment, Kim will become the first Korean-American to head to space.

Kim was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1984. Kim found his calling in the service of others. His desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves galvanized him to enlist in the Navy at age 18. He found his passion in medicine during his service as a Naval Special Warfare Medic in the Iraq War, where he was inspired by the skill and devotion of the physicians who saved his teammates’ lives.

In 2012, Jonny received his commission and graduated with a B.A. in mathematics from the University of San Diego. In 2016, he received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and then completed medical internship at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Jonny’s commitment to science and his desire to inspire future generations led him to apply to the NASA Astronaut Corps. In 2017, he was selected by NASA to join the next Astronaut Candidate Class as a Navy Lieutenant.

Kim reported for duty in August 2017 to begin two years of training as an astronaut candidate. Upon completion, Kim started technical duties in the astronaut office while he awaits a flight assignment.

Kim’s military decorations include a Silver Star Medal, a Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” a Special Operations Medical Association 2006 Naval Special Warfare Medic of the Year, 2012 Tillman Scholar and various other service awards.

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