William Oefelein
Bill Oefelein | |
|---|---|
Oefelein in 2003 | |
| Born | William Anthony Oefelein March 29, 1965 Fort Belvoir, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Oregon State University (BS) University of Tennessee Space Institute (MS) |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Commander, USN |
Time in space | 12d 20h 45m |
| Selection | NASA Group 17 (1998) |
| Missions | STS-116 |
Mission insignia | |
William Anthony "Bill" Oefelein (/ˈoʊfɛlaɪn/; born March 29, 1965) is an American freelance adventure writer and photographer and former NASA astronaut who, on his only spaceflight, piloted the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission.
Oefelein gained media attention on February 5, 2007, when fellow astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested in Florida and charged with attempting to kidnap his girlfriend, U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman. Nowak later pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. Oefelein admitted to a two-year affair with Nowak, and he and Nowak became the first astronauts ever dismissed from NASA. Following the dismissals, NASA created its first astronaut Code of Conduct.