U.S. Naval War College Alum, Astronaut Returns to Earth from International Space Station

U.S. Naval War College (NWC) alumnus, U.S. Navy captain and astronaut Jack Hathaway was one of four who splashed down off the coast of San Diego Thursday, Oct. 8, after spending nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA announced.

National Security Affairs Associate Professor Dr. David Burbach, director of the war college’s Space Studies Group, was on-hand at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida when Hathaway and his three crewmates were launched into space in February, and he emceed the event when Hathaway and fellow astronaut Christopher Williams spoke to NWC students, faculty and staff live from the space station in April.

“This year NWC has doubled the amount of time devoted to space in our Joint Military Operations course and we continue to bring in distinguished leaders from U.S. Space Force and experts from civilian agencies and academia – and even astronauts – to address our students,” said Burbach. “Not many of our graduates will visit space themselves like Capt. Hathaway, but his service to NASA and the Navy reminds all of us of the importance of what happens beyond the Earth.”

Although it’s rare for anyone to become an astronaut, Hathaway, a 2015 graduate and alumnus of the Halsey Alfa Advanced Research Program, is not the only NWC alum to have accomplished the feat.

Fellow current astronaut Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner graduated from the war college in 2021.

Among a number of other noteworthy NWC graduates are 1957 alum Alan Shepard, who became the first American in space four years later; 1990 grad Charles Precourt, who later became the chief of NASA’s Astronaut Corps; and Jeff Williams from the class of 1996, who racked up four ISS missions and more than 500 days in space.

Burbach said that in addition to pride in the Naval War College’s space history, the institution is focused on space’s relevance in the current and future military, and ensuring that the officers enrolled here as students have a full grasp of the space domain when they return to the front lines as commanders of forces.

“Space has become a critical piece of every U.S. military operation,” he said. “Not only does America's military rely on space-based systems but our adversaries increasingly use space capabilities of their own.

“Space is also a vital domain of competition for commercial advantage and international prestige,” he continued. “Officers across the Joint Force need to understand the value of space and how space operations fit into the overall multi-domain fight.”

The NWC Space Studies Group was established nearly two years ago as the college ramps up offerings in the subject matter – electives have included classes on space weather effects on military operations, space technology and missions, and Burbach’s class on space and national power.

Established in 1884, NWC informs today’s decision-makers and educates tomorrow’s leaders by providing educational experiences and learning opportunities that develop their ability to hedge aggressively, innovate continuously, fight distributively, delegate confidently, and command with clarity within complex battlespaces.