Clayton C. Anderson, born February 23, 1959, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a former NASA astronaut who considers Ashland, Nebraska, his hometown. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Hastings College (1981) and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University (1983). Joining NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1983, Anderson held various technical and leadership roles before being selected as an astronaut in 1998. A veteran of two spaceflights, Expedition 15 (2007) and STS-131 (2010), he logged 167 days in space and over 38 hours on six spacewalks. His missions included significant work aboard the International Space Station, operating the Canadarm2, performing hardware disposal EVAs, and supporting major resupply operations. Anderson received numerous awards, including NASA Spaceflight and Exceptional Service Medals, and retired from NASA in January 2013 to pursue other endeavors. Courtesy of NASA.