Kayla Barron

Kayla Jane Barron ( Sax; born September 19, 1987) is an American submarine warfare officer, engineer, and NASA astronaut. She was selected in June 2017 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 22, and later qualified as an astronaut in 2020.

While at the Naval Academy, Barron was a member of the Midshipmen cross country and track teams. Following her graduation, she attended Peterhouse at the University of Cambridge on a Gates Cambridge Scholarship; and received a Master of Philosophy degree in nuclear engineering in 2011.

Military career After obtaining a master's degree, Barron was part of the first group of women to become submarine warfare officers. She attended the Navy's nuclear power and submarine officer training program, and was assigned to the Ohio-class submarine USS Maine. While serving on the USS Maine, she completed three patrols as a division officer. Following her submarine assignment, she was Flag Aide to the Superintendent at the Naval Academy until her selection as an astronaut.

She trained for the SpaceX Crew-3 mission, during which she worked aboard the International Space Station as a mission specialist. She launched on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endurance on November 10, 2021, and served as part of the Expedition 67 long duration mission to the ISS. Crew-3 landed in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6, 2022 after 176 days in space.

Personal life Barron is married to Tom Barron, a U.S. Army Special Forces officer.

Amateur radio Barron received a Technician Class amateur radio license from the FCC on September 21, 2020. Her call sign is KI5LAL.

Honors Barron was a Trident Scholar and Distinguished Graduate at the Naval Academy, and a Gates Cambridge Scholar at Cambridge.

Awards Warfare insignia

Decorations and medals

NASA Astronaut Pin