Jonny Kim

Jonny Kim is an American astronaut, physician, U.S. Navy officer, and former Navy SEAL, renowned for his exceptional achievements across multiple disciplines. Born on February 5, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, to Korean immigrant parents, Kim's early life was marked by challenges, including domestic violence and a lack of self-confidence. At 16, he decided to enlist in the Navy, a decision he later described as transformative, stating, "Going into the Navy was the best decision I ever made in my life because it completely transformed that scared boy who didn't have any dreams to someone who started to believe in himself" .

During his military service, Kim completed over 100 combat missions as a combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man with SEAL Team 3. His valor earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V". After his service, he pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of San Diego and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School. He completed his medical internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. In 2017, Kim was selected by NASA as part of Astronaut Group 22 and began his training to become an astronaut .

Kim's journey culminated in his first spaceflight on April 8, 2025, when he launched aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft for an eight-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 72/73. During this mission, he conducted scientific research in technology development, Earth science, biology, and human research . Reflecting on his remarkable journey, Kim emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-belief, stating, "I didn't like the person I was growing up to become, I needed to find myself and my identity. And for me, getting out of my comfort zone, getting away from the people I grew up with, and finding adventure, that was my odyssey, and it was the best decision I ever made" .