Chris is a Canadian astronaut, engineer, pilot, and musician. Born in Ontario, Chris’s lifelong fascination with flight and space led him to a distinguished career in military aviation and space exploration. After he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a combat fighter pilot. He then attended the United States Air Force Test Pilot School to become a test pilot on exchange with the United States Navy. Selected as an astronaut by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), he flew three NASA space missions, helping build two space stations and performed Canada’s first spacewalks.
Chris’s command of Expedition 35 on the International Space Station was his longest-duration mission, where he became the first Canadian to command a spaceship. He also used social media in groundbreaking ways, sharing captivating photos, educational clips, and even performing David Bowie's "Space Oddity" in microgravity, a video seen hundreds of millions of times.
Chris retired from the CSA in 2013, and in addition to multiple directorships and tech development, has continued to inspire and educate through speaking engagements, books, and music. His unique ability to bridge the gap between space exploration, business and everyday life has left an indelible mark on the world of science communication, making him a beloved figure in the realm of space and beyond.
