He grew up with an abusive father and little self-confidence, then became a Navy SEAL, doctor, naval aviator and astronaut; after 3,920 orbits around Earth, Jonny Kim is now leaving NASA

It's unreal to imagine someone with a résumé that includes service as a Navy SEAL, a physician, a naval aviator and a NASA astronaut. For 42-year-old Jonny Kim, however, those accomplishments are only part of a much more encouraging story, with a bitter part.

After nearly a decade at NASA, Kim is leaving the agency on Aug. 27, 2026, and returning to active duty with the US Navy, the agency announced. His departure marks the end of a chapter that took him from military service and medicine to the International Space Station (ISS) and some of NASA’s most demanding operations. But the path to that résumé began long before he became an astronaut.

Who is Jonny Kim?

Born in Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 1984, Kim grew up in a Korean immigrant family. His parents had moved from South Korea to the United States in the early 1980s. His father had barely completed high school, while his mother worked as a substitute elementary school teacher. The family operated a liquor store in South Los Angeles while raising Kim and his younger brother.

In a 2018 interview with Annals of Emergency Medicine, Kim described himself as “the epitome of that quiet kid who just lacked complete self-confidence.”

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His childhood also included a traumatic episode that would become part of the story of his life. According to a 2020 report by The Chosun Ilbo, Kim was subjected to domestic violence by his father during his adolescence. In February 2002, his father threatened the family with a gun and was subsequently shot and killed by police in the family home. That same year, Kim graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

From Navy SEAL to doctor

Kim trained as a hospital corpsman before completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and joining SEAL Team Three. Over more than 100 combat operations, he served in roles including medic, sniper, navigator and point man.

His military service earned him the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat “V,” and numerous other commendations.

But Kim's ambitions did not stop with military service. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego before attending Harvard Medical School, where he earned his doctor of medicine degree. He subsequently completed his medical internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

He then became a dual-designated naval aviator and flight surgeon, adding another demanding profession to an already unusual career.

Then came NASA

In 2017, Kim was selected as a NASA astronaut and completed two years of astronaut candidate training. His training included space station systems, Russian language, robotics, T-38 flight operations, geology, survival training and spacewalk preparation.

He later worked as a capsule communicator, or CAPCOM, at NASA’s Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center and contributed to the development of the Artemis program.

His defining NASA assignment came in 2025, when he launched aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft in April for an eight-month science expedition aboard the International Space Station.

During Expeditions 72/73, Kim orbited Earth 3,920 times and traveled nearly 104 million miles while contributing to scientific investigations involving technology development, Earth science, biology and human research.

As the US Operating Segment lead during the second half of Expedition 73, he oversaw operations across the station’s international modules.

The mission also brought several notable moments. The space station reached a milestone when every available docking port was occupied for the first time in 25 years. Kim also commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm during the first capture of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft, securing 11,000 pounds of supplies for the station.

Kim and his Roscosmos crewmates returned safely to Earth in Kazakhstan in December 2025.

NASA says his impact will last

Announcing his departure, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described Kim as an example of the agency’s highest ideals.

“Jonny Kim represents the very best of NASA, a person who continually pushed the boundaries of exploration while inspiring countless others,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “His contributions aboard the International Space Station advanced critical science that will shape NASA’s future missions for decades to come. We are grateful for his dedication to our nation and to the pursuit of knowledge, and we wish him success as he continues his service in the U.S. Navy.”

Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson, showered his praise the unusual combination of skills Kim brought to the astronaut corps.

“Jonny approached every assignment with humility, precision, and steadfast commitment to the mission,” said Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “His combination of medical training, operational experience, and engineering insight strengthened our team and contributed to advancements in exploration and space station operations.”

‘It’s the people I’ll miss most’ Kim reacts

In an Instagram post following NASA's announcement, Kim offered a similar reflection, saying he was “Immensely grateful” to NASA for the opportunity to serve and contribute.

“While I’ll miss the tech, the hardware, and the missions, it’s the people I’ll miss most. Our greatest asset will always be each other, led with empathy and care,” Kim wrote.

His next chapter will take him back into the Navy. Kim said he is spending his final year of military service with Training Air Wing 2, where he will teach and mentor the next generation of naval aviators.

Then, after a career that has already taken him from combat zones to hospitals and from naval aviation to orbit, Kim says he plans to bring his experience into another challenge.

“I’m spending my final year in the Navy with Training Air Wing 2, giving back by teaching and mentoring the next generation of naval aviators before taking on the next chapter, bringing all my energy to solving hard problems, building with hardcore teams, and driving positive impact.”