Producers of 2025 New York City Veterans Day Parade
Sunita (Suni) L. Williams, NASA Astronaut & U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.)
Working aboard the International Space Station
Official NASA portrait in flight suit
Spacewalk preparation and EVA operations
Sunita (Suni) L. Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and is a veteran of three space missions, Expeditions 14/15, 32/33 and 71/72. Born September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio to Dr. Deepak and Bonnie Pandya, she considers Needham, Massachusetts to be her hometown.
Williams has completed 62 hours and 6 minutes of total spacewalk time over the course of her career, the most of any female astronaut, and fourth on NASA's all-time list. She has logged 608 days in space over her three flights, making her one of the most experienced astronauts in history.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed flight, arriving at the International Space Station on June 6. Following the agency's decision to return Starliner uncrewed, the duo became Expedition 71/72 crewmembers and returned home in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Williams received her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy from the United States Naval Academy in May 1987. After completing Basic Diving Officer training, she reported to Naval Aviation Training Command and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1989.
She served with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 in Norfolk, Virginia, making overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort. In September 1992, she served as Officer-in-Charge of an H-46 detachment for Hurricane Andrew Relief Operations.
Selected for United States Naval Test Pilot School in 1993, Williams became an accomplished test pilot, flying test flights in multiple aircraft including the SH-60B/F, UH-1, AH‑1W, SH-2, VH-3, H-46, CH-53 and H-57. She later served as an instructor at the Naval Test Pilot School before being assigned to the USS Saipan.
Throughout her naval career, she logged more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft, demonstrating exceptional skill and versatility as both a Naval Aviator and Test Pilot.
Williams launched with STS-116, serving as Flight Engineer. During this mission, she established a then-world record for females with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. She spent 195 days aboard the International Space Station.
Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome with Russian Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko and JAXA Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide. Williams served as International Space Station Commander for Expedition 33, spending 127 days in space conducting research and performing three spacewalks.
Part of Boeing Starliner's first crewed flight and later SpaceX Crew-9 mission. During this expedition, Williams surpassed former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson's record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, cementing her place in space exploration history.
• Distinguished Space Service Medal (2)
• Legion of Merit
• Navy Commendation Medal (2)
• Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• Various other service awards
• Society of Experimental Test Pilots
• Society of Flight Test Engineers
• American Helicopter Association
Married to Michael. Enjoys working out, home improvement projects, automotive and aviation work, hiking and camping with their dogs.
First female astronaut to complete four spacewalks in a single mission and holder of the female spacewalk duration record
62 Hours, 6 Minutes
Total Spacewalk Time - 4th on NASA's All-Time List
