Clayton Conrad Anderson (born February 23, 1959) is a retired NASA astronaut. He launched on STS-117 and replaced Sunita Williams as a member of the Expedition 15 crew on June 10, 2007. He is currently an author, motivational speaker, and professor of practice at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa . In 2022, he becomes president and CEO of the Strategic Air Command and the Air and Space Museum.
Anderson graduated from Ashland-Greenwood High School in Ashland, Nebraska in 1977, a Bachelor of Science in Physics (cum laude) from Hastings College in Nebraska in 1981, and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1983 from Iowa State University.
In June 1998, he was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA and reported for training in August of that year. Training includes orientation briefings and tours, in-depth scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction on Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) systems, physiological training, ground training in preparation for the T-38 flight training and learning aquatic and wilderness survival skills.
Prior to being assigned to spaceflight, Anderson led the development of the Enhanced Warning and Warning (ECW) system under the Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrade (CAU) project. Previously, he was a crew support astronaut on Expedition 4 on the International Space Station, providing ground support for technical issues and crew families. Anderson is also the Astronaut Office Crew Representative for the International Space Station Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) and Space Station Power Systems. In November 2002, Anderson graduated from the Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Skills Course. He was a reserve flight engineer for Expedition 12, Expedition 13, and Expedition 14 to the International Space Station.
