James Frederick Buchli (born June 20, 1945, in New Rockford, North Dakota) is a retired United States Marine aviator and former NASA astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.
United States Naval Academy, University of West Florida
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A former NASA Astronaut, he graduated from Fargo Central High School in North Dakota in 1963; received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1967, and a master of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering Systems from the University of West Florida in 1975.
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He entered the the United States Marine Corps and earned many honors: the Defense Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Citation, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with the Silver Star.
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After serving as Platoon Commander in Vietnam, he entered naval flight officer training at Pensacola, Florida, and progressed from there. He served on four space flights, orbited the earth 319 times, while traveling 7.74 million miles in over 20 days. He also labored as a mission specialist on several Space Shuttle missions.
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In 1992, Buchli retired from the U.S. Marine Corps and the NASA Astronaut Office to accept a position as Manager of Space Station Systems Operations and Requirements with Boeing Defense and Space Group, in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1993, he was reassigned as Boeing Deputy for Payload Operations, Space Station Freedom Program. Buchli later served as Operations & Utilization Manager for Space Station, Boeing Defense and Space Group, Houston, Texas.
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His tours on the Space Shuttle overlooked many scientific experiments, such as physiological sciences, materials processing, biology, and navigation.
$700,000