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David C. Leestma (born May 6, 1949) is an United
States|American astronaut.

==Personal data==

Born May 6, 1949, in Muskegon, Michigan. Married
to the former Patti K. Opp of Dallas, Texas. They
have six children. He enjoys golfing, tennis,
flying, and fishing. His parents, Dr. and Mrs.
Harold F. Leestma, reside in Palm Desert,
California. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L.
Opp, reside in San Marcos, Texas.

==Education==

Graduated from Tustin High School, Tustin,
California, in 1967; received a bachelor of
science degree in aeronautical engineering from
the United States Naval Academy in 1971, and a
master of science degree in aeronautical
engineering from the Naval Postgraduate
School|U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1972.

==Organizations==

Associate Fellow, American Institute of
Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA); Life Member,
Association of Naval Aviation.

==Special honors==

The Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit,
Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation
Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit
Commendation (VX-4), National Defense Service
Medal, Battle "E" Award (VF-32), the Rear Admiral
Thurston James Award (1973), the NASA Space Flight
Medal (1984, 1989, 1992), the NASA Exceptional
Service Medal (1985, 1988, 1991, 1992), and the
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1993, 1994). He
was awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious
Executive in 1998.

==Experience==

Leestma was graduated first in his class from the
U.S. Naval Academy in 1971. As a first lieutenant
afloat, he was assigned to USS Hepburn (DE-1055)
in Long Beach, California, before reporting in
January 1972 to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate
School. He completed flight training and received
his wings in October 1973. He was assigned to
VF-124 in San Diego, California, for initial
flight training in the F-14A Tomcat and then
transferred to VF-32 in June 1974 and was
stationed at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Leestma
made three overseas deployments to the
Mediterranean/North Atlantic areas while flying
aboard the USS John F. Kennedy. In 1977, he was
reassigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
Four (VX-4) at Naval Air Station Point Mugu,
California. As an operational test director with
the F-14A, he conducted the first operational
testing of new tactical software for the F-14 and
completed the follow-on test and evaluation of new
F-14A avionics, including the programmable signal
processor. He also served as fleet model manager
for the F-14A tactical manual. He has logged over
3,500 hours of flight time, including nearly 1,500
hours in the F-14A.
Leestma retired from the Navy as a captain.

===NASA experience===

Selected to become an astronaut in 1980. Following
his first flight Leestma served as a capsule
communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-51C through STS-61A.
He was then assigned as the Chief, Mission
Development Branch, responsible for assessing the
operational integration requirements of payloads
that will fly aboard the Shuttle. From February
1990 to September 1991, when he started training
for his third space mission, Leestma served as
Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations.
Following this flight, he served as Deputy Chief
and acting Chief of the Astronaut Office. Leestma
was selected as the Director, Flight Crew
Operations Directorate, in November 1992. As
Director, FCOD, he had overall responsibility for
the Astronaut Office and for JSC Aircraft
Operations. During his tenure as Director, 41
Shuttle flights and 7 Mir missions were
successfully flown. He was responsible for the
selection of Astronaut Groups 15, 16 and 17. While
director, he oversaw the requirements, development
modifications of the T-38A transition to the T-38N
avionics upgrades. In September 1998, Leestma was
reassigned as the Deputy Director, Engineering, in
charge of the management of Johnson Space Center
Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Projects. In
August 2001 he was assigned as the JSC Project
Manager for the Space Launch Initiative,
responsible for all JSC work related to the
development of the new launch system. Leestma is
currently serving as the Assistant Program Manager
for the Orbital Space Plane responsible for the
vehicle systems and operations of the new crewed
vehicle that is to serve as the transfer vehicle
for space flight crews to and from the
International Space Station.

A veteran of three space flights, Leestma has
logged a total of 532.7 hours in space. He was a
mission specialist on STS-41G (October 5-13,
1984), STS-28 (August 8-13, 1989), and STS-45
(March 24 to April 2, 1992).
Leestma is now the Assistant Program Manager for
the Orbital Space Plane project at Johnson Space
Center.

===Space flight experience===

STS-41G Challenger, launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984. It was the
sixth flight of the Orbiter Challenger and the
thirteenth flight of the Space Shuttle system. The
seven-person crew also included two payload
specialists: one from Canada, and one a Navy
oceanographer. During the mission the crew
deployed the ERBS satellite using the remote
manipulator system (RMS), operated the OSTA-3
payload (including the SIR-B radar, FILE, and MAPS
experiments) and the Large Format Camera (LFC),
conducted a satellite refueling demonstration
using hydrazine fuel with the Orbital Refueling
System (ORS), and conducted numerous in-cabin
experiments as well as activating eight "Getaway
Special" canisters. Dave Leestma and Kathryn
Sullivan successfully conducted a 3-1/2 hour
extravehicular activity (EVA) to demonstrate the
feasibility of actual satellite refueling.

STS-28 Columbia, launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, on August 8, 1989. The mission
carried Department of Defense payloads and a
number of secondary payloads. After 80 orbits of
the Earth, this five-day mission concluded with a
lakebed landing on Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force
Base, California, on August 13, 1989.

STS-45 Atlantis, launched from the Kennedy Space
Center, Florida on March 24, 1992. During the
nine-day mission the crew operated the twelve
experiments that constituted the ATLAS-1
(Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and
Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 obtained a vast array of
detailed measurements of atmospheric, chemical and
physical properties, which will contribute
significantly to improving our understanding of
our climate and atmosphere. STS-45 landed on April
2, 1992 on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center,
Florida, after completing 142 orbits of the Earth.

Source:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/leestma.html

NASA