Chris Ferguson, NASA astronaut, served as pilot of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in September 2006.  Mr. Ferguson’s flight, designated shuttle mission STS-115, was the first mission dedicated to construction of the International Space Station since late 2002.  In addition to piloting duties on STS-115, Captain Ferguson was  responsible for operation of the shuttle’s robotic arm to maneuver a new 17-ton truss segment to the station and to inspect the shuttle heat shield. 

Ferguson as selected to be an astronaut in 1998, the third Drexel alumnus to be chosen by NASA following James P. Bagian '73 and Paul Richards '87. Following two years of training and evaluation, Ferguson was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/ Operations Branch.

Commissioned into the U.S. Navy after completing Drexel's NROTC program, Ferguson received flight training in Maryland, Florida, Texas and Virginia before joining Fighter Squadron VF-11, the "Red Rippers," While with VF-11 he also attended the Navy Fighter Weapon School (TOPGUN),and was chosen for the Naval Postgraduate/Test Pilot School program in 1989. Ferguson later served as an instructor in the Test Pilot School and as an F-14 Class Desk Officer for the Commander Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, prior to his NASA selection. Among his awards are the Navy Strike/Flight Air Medal, three Naval Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal. He and his wife Sandra have three children.