Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington                 
202-358-1100
michael.curie@nasa.gov

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-404

VETERAN SPACE SHUTTLE COMMANDER CHRIS FERGUSON TO LEAVE AGENCY

HOUSTON -- Astronaut Chris Ferguson, the last commander of a space
shuttle mission, has announced his plans to retire from NASA on Dec.
9. He will leave for a new job in the private sector.

"Chris has been a true leader at NASA," NASA Administrator Charles
Bolden said, "not just as a commander of the space shuttle, but also
as an exemplary civil servant, a distinguished Navy officer and a
good friend. I am confident he will succeed in his next career as he
brings his skill and talents to new endeavors."

Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain, served as the commander for
STS-135, the final flight of space shuttle Atlantis and the 135th and
final mission of America's 30-year Space Shuttle Program.

Atlantis' flight was Ferguson's third trip to space. During the 13-day
mission, he and his crew delivered approximately 10,000 pounds of
supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station. Before
his assignment to STS-135, Ferguson served as deputy chief of the
Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"Chris has been a great friend, a tremendous professional and an
invaluable asset to the NASA team and the astronaut office," said
Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "His exceptional
leadership helped ensure a perfect final flight of the space shuttle,
a fitting tribute to the thousands who made the program possible."

Ferguson first flew in space as the pilot of Atlantis on STS-115 in
2006, during which the P3/P4 truss segments were delivered to the
station. He next flew as commander of Endeavour on STS-126 in 2008.
During the mission, Ferguson and his crew delivered water recycling
and habitation hardware to the station and exchanged station crew
members. In total, Ferguson logged more than 40 days in space.

Ferguson joined the astronaut corps in 1998. After completing his
initial training, he performed technical duties related to the
shuttle's main engines, external tank, solid rocket boosters and
flight software. He also served as a spacecraft communicator in
mission control for four shuttle missions.

For Ferguson's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ferguson.html