Raja Chari

Chari was born in Milwaukee,Wisconsin and raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from Columbus High School in Waterloo, Iowa. He then attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, graduating in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He also earned a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland and from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Chari is a former test pilot for the U.S. Navy and served in combat in Iraq. He was selected by NASA to join the 2017 astronaut candidate class. At the time of his selection in June 2017, Chari was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, serving as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. Chari reported for duty in August 2017 to begin two years of training as an astronaut. Upon completion, he will be assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office while he awaits a flight assignment.

Chari is an Eagle Scout. He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. Chari was named a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

He is married to Holly Schaffter Chari, also a Cedar Falls native, and the couple has three children.