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Loria, Christopher Joseph 'Gus'

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Loria Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1996-2005. Born: 1960-07-09. Birth Place: Newton, Massachusetts.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:CHRISTOPHER J. GUS LORIA (COLONEL, USMC, RET.)
NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)

PERSONAL DATA: Born July 9, 1960 in Belmont, Massachusetts, he considers League City, Texas, his hometown. He is married to the former Jamie Ann Fraser, and he has three children. His mother, Joan Loria, resides in Belmont, Massachusetts. His father, Robert L. Loria, is deceased.

EDUCATION: Graduate of Belmont High School (1978), and the US Naval Academy Preparatory School (1979). Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy (1983). Master in Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (2004).

ORGANIZATIONS: Harvard Alumni Association, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Marine Corps Aviation Association, National Rifle Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Fellow, NASA Acquisition Improvement Award, NASA Group Achievement Award, Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year 1995-1996. Personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Navy Commendation Medals (1 with V), 2 Air Medals (both with V), 4 Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Achievement Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Loria received his commission from the Naval Academy in 1983, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1988. He transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, during August 1988 through August 1989. His next assignments were with Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 314 and 101 (VMFA-314 the Black Knights and VMFAT-101 the Sharpshooters) at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. While assigned to the Black Knights he deployed to Bahrain for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew 42 combat missions in support of allied operations. He graduated with Class 93A from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California in December of 1993. January 1994 to July 1996, he was assigned to VX-23, the Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, as an experimental test pilot. Loria distinguished himself in the areas of high angle of attack flight test, ordnance, flight controls and aircraft flying qualities testing for the F/A-18 Hornet, and aircraft departure and spin testing for the F/A-18A-D models and the NASA Dryden F/A-18 HARV thrust vectoring aircraft.

He has 3,079 hours of flight time and has flown 32 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Previous NASA experience includes assignment as test pilot and Project Officer for the Department of the Navy on the X-31 Program at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards Air Force Base, California, from July 1994 to June 1995.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Loria reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Loria had technical duties in the Astronaut Office with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs as well as an Ascent and Entry CAPCOM. Assigned as pilot on STS-113, Loria sustained back injuries off duty that medically grounded him and required his replacement on the crew. From September 2002 through July 2003 he served as the Chief Test Pilot for the Orbital Space Plane Program. Selected by the NASA Headquarters Executive Development Education panel, Loria graduated from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, with a Masters in Public Administration in June of 2004. From August 2004 through February 2005 he was assigned as the Deputy Chief Engineer, Constellation Program at NASA Headquarters. In the fall of 2005 a NASA medical evaluation determined that his previous injuries disqualified him from further space flight assignments. Colonel Loria requested a transfer back to the US Marine Corps and left NASA in February 2005.

NOVEMBER 2009

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.

NAME: Christopher J. "Gus" Loria (Major, USMC)

NASA Astronaut Candidate (Pilot)

PERSONAL DATA:

Born July 9, 1960 in Newton, Massachusetts. Considers Belmont, Massachusetts, his hometown. Married to the former Sandra Lee Sullivan, R.N., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They have two children. He enjoys running, cycling, weight training, sailing, hiking, fishing, hunting. His mother, Joan Loria, resides in Belmont, Massachusetts. His father, Robert L. Loria, is deceased.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Belmont High School in 1978, and from the US Naval Academy Prepatory School in 1979. Bachelor of science degree in general engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983. Currently completing his thesis for a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Safari Club International, Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Marine Corps Aviation Association, National Rifle Association.

SPECIAL HONORS:

Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year 1995-1996. Who's Who in the World 1995, Who's Who in the American West 1994. Graduated first in all phases of flight training, Commodore's List with Distinction. Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Navy Commendation Medals (1 with "V"), 2 Air Medals (both with "V"), 4 Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Achievement Medal.

EXPERIENCE:

Loria received his commission from the Naval Academy in 1983, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1988. He transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at Naval air Station Lemoore, California, during August 1988 through August 1989. His next assignment was with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) the "Black Knights" at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, where he served as squadron pilot and performed collateral duties as the Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Maintenance Officer in the squadron aircraft maintenance department. While assigned to the Black Knights he deployed to Bahrain for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew 42 combat missions in support of allied operations. In 1992, while assigned as an instructor pilot to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) he was selected for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. January 1994 to July 1996, he was assigned to the Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, as an experimental test pilot. Loria distinguished himself in the areas of high angle of attack flight test, aircraft departure and spin testing, ordnance, flight controls and aircraft flying qualities testing for the F/A-18 Hornet.

He has almost 2,000 hours of flight time and had flown over 35 different aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Previous NASA experience includes assignment as test pilot and Project Officer for the Department of the Navy on the X-31 Program at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards AFB, CA from July 1994 to June 1995. Also test pilot on Dryden's F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle or "HARV" during March of 1995, conducting spin testing and the first successful excitation of the Hornet Falling Leaf out of control mode during flight test. Participated in physiology testing of the prototype High Altitude & G System (or HAGS) which is a combination g-suit and partial pressure suit for NASA Dryden's F-16XL Program. Lead Department of the Navy test pilot on the prestigious NASA/U.S. Navy/Industry Aircraft Control Power Working Group. Selected by NASA in April 1996, Loria reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996 to begin two years of training and evaluation. Successful completion of initial training will qualify him for various technical assignments leading to selection as a pilot on a Space Shuttle flight crew.

• Birth of Christopher Joseph 'Gus' Loria - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Loria. American test pilot astronaut, 1996-2005. US Marine Corps. Grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts. Flew 42 combat missions over Iraq..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 16 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, David, Burbank, Cagle, Caldeiro, Camarda, Carey, Clark, Fincke, Forrester, Frick, Guidoni, Herrington, Higginbotham, Hobaugh, Kelly, James, Kelly, Mark, Kelly, Scott, Lockhart, Loria, Magnus, Massimino, Mastracchio, McCool, Morin, Nowak, Pettit, Phillips.

  The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

  Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 10 pilots and 25 mission specialists selected from over 2,400 applicants. 9 additional international astronauts.