Jonny Kim

Jonathan Yong "Jonny" Kim (born 5 February 1984) is an American physician, U.S. naval officer, Navy SEAL, and retired NASA astronaut.

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 Combat "V" for (Valor), and achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. Kim is also a Aerospace Medicine Dual Designator (AMDD); since its inception during World War I, only 79 individuals have earned the dual designation of both a physician and a naval aviator in the US Navy. 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 and returned on 9 December 2025.

Early life and education Jonathan Yong Kim was born on 5 February 1984 in Los Angeles, California. , Kim is a member of the Navy Reserve with rank of lieutenant commander.

Following his graduation from Harvard with a M.D. in 2016, he began a residency in emergency medicine through the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) program at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Woman’s Hospital and commissioned into the Navy Medical Corps. Just a year into his residency, on 7 June 2017, Kim was one of twelve candidates chosen from a pool of over 18,300 applicants to join NASA Astronaut Group 22. Prompting him to leave clinical training, he reported for duty on 21 August 2017

He later completed a year-long postgraduate internship (PGY-1) and attend the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI), becoming a naval flight surgeon.

NASA astronaut (2017–2026)

Astronaut Group 22 with NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine (2018). Kim is visible in the upper left corner. alt=Kim worked in the Astronaut Office while awaiting a flight assignment. Retirement Kim stepped down from his position at NASA on 27 August 2026 to return to active duty to finish out the remainder of his military career within naval aviation training.

Personal life Kim is married and has three children. According to his NASA biography, his personal interests include outdoor activities, strength training, video games, and lifelong learning.

Awards and decorations As of December 2025, Kim is known to have earned the following decorations.