Jonny Kim

This article is about the American sailor, physician, and astronaut. For the South Korean film producer, see Jonathan Kim.

Jonathan Yong "Jonny" Kim (born 5 February 1984) is an American astronaut with NASA, physician, and U.S. Navy officer, flight surgeon, aviator, and former SEAL.

Jonny Kim
Kim in February 2025
Born	Jonathan Yong Kim (1984-02-05) 5 February 1984 (age 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	BA, Uni. of San Diego (2012) MD, Harvard Medical (2016)
Children	3
Space career
NASA astronaut
Time in space	20 days, 13 hours, 6 minutes [refresh] (currently in space)
Selection	NASA Group 22 (2017)
Missions	Soyuz MS-27  (Expedition 72/73)
Mission insignia
Military career
Branch	United States Navy
Years	2002–present
Rank	Lieutenant commander
Unit	SEAL Team 3 Navy Medical Corps
Conflicts	Iraq War
Awards	Silver Star

Born in Los Angeles to South Korean immigrants, Kim enlisted in the Navy in 2002. He joined SEAL Team 3 and participated in over 100 combat missions in the Middle East as a combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man. He has earned a Silver Star and Bronze Star (with V device), and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. While a sailor, Kim also earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics with distinction, and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School. In 2017, Kim was selected to join NASA Astronaut Group 22. He launched with Expedition 72/73 to the International Space Station on 8 April 2025.

Personal life and education

Jonathan Yong Kim was born on 5 February 1984 in Los Angeles, California.^[1] His parents emigrated from South Korea to the United States in the early 1980s,^[2] and his father had scarcely completed a high-school education. The family opened a liquor store in South Los Angeles, and his mother worked as a substitute elementary school teacher while raising Kim and his younger brother.^[3] In a 2018 interview with Annals of Emergency Medicine, Kim described himself as "the epitome of that quiet kid who just lacked complete self-confidence."^[4] In 2020, The Chosun Ilbo reported that the adolescent Kim had been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of his father; in February 2002, after threatening his family with a gun, Kim's father was shot to death in his attic by police.^[5]

At Santa Monica High School,^[6] Kim received high grades in his classes, including several Advanced Placements, while participating in swimming and water polo;^[3] he graduated in 2002. Kim received a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in mathematics from the University of San Diego in 2012, and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School in 2016. Kim was a Pat Tillman Foundation "Tillman Scholar" selectee. In 2017, Kim completed his medical internship in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital.^[6]

As of January 2020^[update], Kim was married^[7] with three children.^[8]

Career

U.S. Navy

Kim learned about and decided to become a Navy SEAL at age 16, investing his remaining high-school years physically conditioning himself for the rigors of Special Warfare training. Of this decision, Kim said, "Going into the Navy was the best decision I ever made in my life because it completely transformed that scared boy who didn't have any dreams to someone who started to believe in himself."^[4]

After enlisting with the United States Navy in 2002 as a seaman recruit, Kim graduated BUD/S class 247 and was assigned to SEAL Team 3 with the rating Special Warfare Operator. He deployed twice to the Middle East and participated in over 100 combat missions as a combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man.^[6] During his tenure with the SEALs, Kim served with PO2s Marc Alan Lee and Michael A. Monsoor.^[7] In 2009,^[6] Kim was accepted to the STA-21 commissioning program;^[9] when he graduated from the University of San Diego in 2012 and left the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Kim entered the Medical Corps.^[6]

Kim speaking at a SEAL Team 3 ceremony in August 2023

On 6 June 2022, Kim completed his first solo flight in a Beechcraft T-6 Texan II at the Naval Air Training Command, part of a common training regimen for U.S. Navy – NASA astronauts who lacked previous military pilot experience.^[9] After further training on the Northrop T-38 Talon and TH-57 helicopter, Kim formally completed his flight training in March 2023 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, receiving the rare dual-designation as both a Naval flight surgeon and naval aviator.^[10]

Kim is a recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal (with Combat "V"), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Combat "V"), and Combat Action Ribbon.^[7] According to Jocko Willink, Kim's Silver Star was awarded for rescuing multiple wounded Iraqi soldiers in the face of enemy fire.^[11] As of July 2023^[update], Kim was still described as a naval officer with the rank of lieutenant commander.^[12]

NASA

Astronaut Group 22 with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (2018). Kim is visible in the upper left corner.

While studying at Harvard Medical School, Kim met and was inspired by astronaut–physician Scott E. Parazynski to apply for Astronaut Candidacy.^[4] On 7 June 2017,^[13] Kim was one of twelve candidates chosen from a pool of over 18,300 applicants to join NASA Astronaut Group 22.^[14] He reported for duty on 21 August 2017,^[4] and graduated from training on 10 January 2020.^[6]

According to NASA, Kim will work in the Astronaut Office while awaiting a flight assignment.^[6] In 2020, Kim began working as a capsule communicator at the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center.^[12] On 9 December 2020, NASA formally announced that Kim would join 17 other astronauts in training for early Moon landing missions of the Artemis program.^[15] In July 2023, he was serving as operations officer, supporting crew operations.^[12] In August 2024, NASA announced that Kim was scheduled as a member of the Expedition 72/73 crew to the International Space Station (ISS).^[16]

The Expedition 72/73 crew—Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky—launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, on 8 April 2025 at 10:47 a.m. (UTC+05:00); they docked with Prichal three hours and ten minutes later. Kim was tasked to "conduct scientific research in technology development, Earth science, biology, human research, and more."^[17]