Prior to his selection to join NASA in 2013, Cassada served as a test pilot in the US Navy, and has over 3,500 hours in more than 40 aircraft, and 23 combat missions.

Josh Aaron Cassada was born on July 18, 1973, in San Diego, California, and raised in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

While at the University of Rochester, Cassada studied high-energy particle physics and conducted research at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

He has served as CAPCOM in support of International Space Station operations, and worked on the development of the Orion and Commercial Crew programs.

[1] Cassada graduated summa cum laude from Albion College, and received a teaching award from the University of Rochester's physics and astronomy department.