View source for Bernard A. Harris Jr.

{{short description|American astronaut (born 1956)}}
{{redirect|Bernard Harris}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Bernard Harris
|image         = Bernard Anthony Harris Jr.jpg
|birth_name    = Bernard Anthony Harris Jr.
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1956|6|26}}
|birth_place   = [[Temple, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|education     = [[University of Houston]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])<br>[[Texas Tech University]] ([[Doctor of Medicine|MD]])<br>[[University of Texas Medical Branch|University of Texas, Galveston]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|time          = 18d 6h 8m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 13|NASA Group 13 (1990)]]
|eva1          = 1
|eva2          = 4h 39m
|mission       = [[STS-55]]<br>[[STS-63]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-55-patch.png|48px]] [[File:Sts-63-patch.png|48px]]
}}
'''Bernard Anthony Harris Jr.''' (born June 26, 1956) is a former [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first [[African American]] to perform an [[extra-vehicular activity]] (spacewalk), during the second of his two [[Space Shuttle Program|Space Shuttle]] flights.

== Early life ==
Harris was born on June 26, 1956 in [[Temple, Texas]]. His parents were Bernard A. Harris, Sr. and Gussie Emanual Harris.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. |url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dr-bernard-harris-jr |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=History Makers}}</ref> His parents divorced when he was six years old and seeing his father, who had only a tenth grade education, struggle to find work inspired Harris to pursue [[STEM]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA Astronaut Looks to Inspire Next Generation |url=https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2023/08/02/nasa-astronaut-looks-inspire-next-generation |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News |language=en}}</ref>

Harris first became interested in being an astronaut after watching the [[Apollo 11]] mission on TV in 1969 at 13 years old. With the help of his science teacher, he formed a science club and a rocket club with some other students.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Holeywell |first=Ryan |date=2019-06-28 |title=Astronaut and TMC Board Member Bernard A. Harris Jr. reflects on the moon landing |url=https://www.tmc.edu/news/2019/06/astronaut-and-tmc-board-member-bernard-a-harris-jr-reflects-on-the-moon-landing/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=TMC News |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
Harris graduated from Sam Houston High School in [[San Antonio, Texas]], in 1974, where he was actively involved in science fairs, book clubs and other school activities{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}.  He received a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] [[Biology|degree in biology]] from [[University of Houston]] in 1978.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Bernard A. Harris |url=https://horatioalger.org/news-events/news/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Horatio Alger |date=14 February 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=January 1999 |title=BERNARD A. HARRIS, JR., (M.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/harris_bernard.pdf |access-date=March 12, 2021 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> He earned his [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] degree from [[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine]] in 1982. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the [[Mayo Clinic]] in 1985. Harris is a member of [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] fraternity.<ref name=":0" />

Harris completed a [[United States National Research Council|National Research Council]] Fellowship at NASA's [[Ames Research Center]] in 1987.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Bernard Harris Jr. {{!}} Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University |url=https://business.rice.edu/person/bernard-harris-jr |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=business.rice.edu |language=en}}</ref> While at Ames, he conducted research in [[musculature]] [[physiology]] and disuse.<ref name=":0" />

He also trained as a [[flight surgeon]] at the Aerospace School of Medicine at [[Brooks Air Force Base]] in San Antonio in 1988.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Dr. Harris received a [[master's degree]] in [[biomedical science]] from [[University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston|The University of Texas Medical Branch]] in 1996, and an MBA from the University of Houston (1999). Harris is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver.<ref name=":0" />

After completing his fellowship at NASA Ames, he joined NASA's [[Johnson Space Center]] as a [[Biomedical scientist|clinical scientist]] and flight surgeon, where he conducted clinical investigations of [[Effect of spaceflight on the human body|space adaptation]] and developed [[countermeasures]] for extended duration [[space flight]].

He was the first African American man to go in space as one of NASA's research teams and he was involved in the construction of the space rovers.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

==Astronaut experience==
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Harris became an astronaut in July 1991, and qualified for assignment as a [[mission specialist]] on future [[Space Shuttle]] flight crews. He served as the crew representative for Shuttle Software in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch. Harris was assigned as a mission specialist on [[STS-55]], [[Spacelab]] D-2, in August 1991.  He flew on board [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]] for ten days, (26 April 1993&nbsp;&ndash; 6 May 1993); on the mission the Shuttle reached one year of accumulated flight time. Harris was part of the payload crew of Spacelab D-2, conducting a variety of research in physical and life sciences. During this flight, Harris logged over 239 hours and 4,164,183 miles in space.<ref name=":0" />

His second mission was as the payload commander on [[STS-63]] ( February 2, 1995&nbsp;&ndash; February 11, 1995), the first flight of the new joint Russian-American Space Program. Mission highlights included the first rendezvous (but not docking) with the [[Russian space program|Russian]] space station [[Mir]] and retrieval of [[Spartan 204]] satellite. During the flight, Harris became the first [[African-American]] to [[spacewalk|walk in space]], while fellow astronaut [[Michael Foale]] became the first British-born spacewalker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/9/newsid_2538000/2538739.stm |title=1995: Space pioneers take first small steps |work=On This Day: February 9 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=2007-07-14 | date=1995-02-09 | location=London}}</ref> (It was also on this flight that [[Eileen Collins]] became the first female Shuttle pilot.) On this mission, Harris logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits, and traveled over 2.9 million miles.<ref name=":0" />

==Post-NASA career==
[[File:Bernard Harris WPI 2014.jpg|thumb|right|Harris at the 2014 TouchTomorrow Festival held at [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]] in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]].]]Harris left NASA in April 1996, but has continued research.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}  He served as Vice President of SPACEHAB, Inc., and innovative [[commercialization of space|space commercialization]] company, where he directed the company's space science business. He also served as Vice President of Business Development for Space Media, Inc., an Informatics company, establishing an e-commerce initiative that is now part of the United Nations' education program.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

In 1998, he founded The Harris Foundation, a Houston, Texas-based non-profit organization, whose stated mission is "to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. THF supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bernard Harris, ExxonMobil Announce 20 New Summer Camps |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070302005061/en/Bernard-Harris%2C-ExxonMobil-Announce-20-Summer-Camps |agency=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=ExxonMobil |date=2 March 2007 |access-date=2007-07-14}}</ref>

In 2008, he appeared in [[Microsoft]]'s "I'm a P.C." ad campaign.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} Harris also gave a keynote speech at the Exxon Mobil Texas State Science and Engineering Fair.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 2009, he was elected vice president of the American Telemedicine Association.{{Needs citation|date=February 2024}} He was elected president of the American Telemedicine Association in 2011, serving for a one-year term that ended in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Presidents |url=https://www.americantelemed.org/about-us/past-presidents/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=ATA |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010, he was part of the Dream Tour where he travelled to over 30 schools around the country.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Currently, Harris is CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative and president and chief executive officer of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital accelerator, that invests in early-stage companies in medical informatics and technology.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nms.org/About-Us/Our-Team/Executive-Team/Bernard-Harris.aspx |title=National Math and Science Initiative - Bernard A. Harris, Jr |access-date=2018-10-05 |archive-date=2018-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035035/http://www.nms.org/About-Us/Our-Team/Executive-Team/Bernard-Harris.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vesaliusventures.com/management-team |title=MANAGEMENT TEAM |publisher=Vesalius Ventures |access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref>

As of April 19, 2021, Harris serves on the board of directors for commercial aerospace and weapons manufacturer [[Raytheon Technologies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2021/04/19/raytheon-technologies-appoints-bernard-a-harris-jr-to-board-of-directors|title=Raytheon Technologies Appoints Bernard A. Harris Jr. To Board of Directors}}</ref>

==Organizations and honors==
Harris is a member of many professional, academic and service organizations, including the following:

* [[American College of Physicians]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Phi Kappa Phi]] honor society<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phi Kappa Phi Celebrates Black History Month |url=https://www.phikappaphi.org/about/news/news-landing/2020/02/10/phi-kappa-phi-celebrates-black-history-month |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Phi Kappa Phi |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] fraternity<ref>{{Cite web |last=watchtheyard |date=2017-02-21 |title=The First Black Person to Walk in Outer Space was a Member of Kappa Alpha Psi |url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/alphas/first-black-person-walk-outer-space-member-kappa-alpha-psi/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Watch The Yard |language=en-US}}</ref>

He has served as a board member for the following organizations:

* [[Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System]] (late 1990s)<ref>{{cite news |last=Adam |first=Young |date=2010-12-03 |title=First black space walker, former Texas Tech regents talks education with Lubbock audience |url=http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2010-12-03/first-black-space-walker-former-texas-tech-regents-talks-education-lubbock |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206085241/http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2010-12-03/first-black-space-walker-former-texas-tech-regents-talks-education-lubbock |archive-date=2010-12-06 |access-date=2011-07-29 |newspaper=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]]}}</ref>
* [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club]] of Houston<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn about Spacewalker Bernard Harris |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/dr-bernard-harris-jr-biography-3072567 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en}}</ref>
* [[National Math and Science Initiative]] (CEO)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-22 |title=Congratulations to Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., 2022 Recipient of the James Bryant Conant Award |url=https://www.nms.org/Resources/Newsroom/Press-Release/Congratulations-to-Dr-Bernard-A-Harris-Jr-,-2022-R.aspx |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=National Math and Science Initiative}}</ref>
* [[Medical Informatics]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Technology and Applications Center]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Houston Technology Center]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[National Space Biomedical Research Institute]]<ref name=":2" />
* [[Board of Scientific Counselors]]<ref name=":2" />

He has been recognized several times by NASA and other organizations for his professional and academic achievements. Harris has also received a number of other honorary doctorates from the following institutions:

* [[New Jersey Institute of Technology]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Dr. Bernard Harris |url=https://www.concordia.net/community/dr-bernard-harris/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Concordia |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Indiana Institute of Technology]]<ref name=":4" />
* [[Morehouse College]] School of Medicine (1996)<ref name=":0" />
* [[University of Hartford]] (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |title=UHart Celebrates Black History Month |url=https://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2021/01/ns-uhart-celebrates-black-history-month.aspx |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.hartford.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Stonybrook University]] (2006)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorary Degrees {{!}} Special Collections and University Archives |url=https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/libspecial/archives/honorarydegrees.php |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.stonybrook.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* [[New Jersey Institute of Technology]]
* [[Washington & Jefferson College]] (2013)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-04-10 |title=W&J Receives Select ExxonMobil Grant to Offer Summer Science Camp |url=https://www.washjeff.edu/wj-receives-select-exxonmobil-grant-to-offer-summer-science-camp/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Washington & Jefferson College |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]] (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-24 |title=Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. Pioneering Astronaut and President of the Harris Foundation, Named WPI's 2015 Commencement Speaker |url=https://www.wpi.edu/news/2015commspkr |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.wpi.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonsalves |first=Susan |date=2015-05-16 |title=WPI graduation: Astronaut tells Class of 2015 to pursue 'infinite possibilities' |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/worcester/2015/05/16/wpi-graduation-astronaut-tells-class/34533270007/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[University of Houston]] (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorary Degree - University of Houston |url=https://www.uh.edu/commencement/honorary-degree-recipients/#:~:text=In%20keeping%20with%20tradition,%20the,supportive%20association%20with%20the%20university. |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.uh.edu}}</ref>
* [[University of Houston]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Honorary Doctoral Degree Recipients: University of Houston |url=https://uh.edu/commencement/honorary-degree-recipients/honorary-doctoral-degree-recipients.pdf |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=University of Houston}}</ref>
* [[University of the Sciences]], now called [[Saint Joseph's University|St. Joseph's University]] (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-22 |title=Physician, Astronaut Bernard Harris to Address Graduates at Bicentennial Commencement {{!}} Saint Joseph's University |url=https://www.sju.edu/news/physician-astronaut-bernard-harris-address-graduates-bicentennial-commencement |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.sju.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

He has also received the following awards:

* a [[NASA Space flight medal]] (1993, 1995)<ref name=":0" />
* a [[NASA Award of Merit]] (1996)<ref name=":0" /> 
* a fellow of the [[American College of Physicians]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Horatio Alger Award]] (2000)<ref name=":1" />
* James Bryant Conant Award (2021)<ref name=":3" />
* National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award |url=https://spacegrant.org/programs/service-award/harris/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=National Space Grant Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2005, the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas named a middle school under construction after Harris.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Campus / Harris Campus Tour |url=https://www.neisd.net/harris/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.neisd.net%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FPageID%3D27468 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.neisd.net |language=en}}</ref> Bernard Harris Middle School opened August 14, 2006, to have a capacity of 1500 students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harris Middle School |url=https://www.neisd.net/Page/13340 |access-date=14 April 2023 |website=neisd.net |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415010734/https://www.neisd.net/Page/13340 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 1989, Harris married Sandra Fay Lewis. In 1992, the couple had a daughter named Brooke Alexandria Harris. Harris and Lewis divorced in 2008.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Claire |date=2022-01-11 |title=From Trekkie to Space Traveler: Texas Astronaut Inspires Youth to Dream Big |url=https://txliving.com/from-trekkie-to-space-traveler-bernard-harris-inspires-youth-to-dream-big/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Texasliving |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of African-American astronauts]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bernard A. Harris, Jr.}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/harris_bernard.pdf |title= BERNARD A. HARRIS, JR., (M.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT |publisher=NASA |date=January 1999 |access-date=March 12, 2021}}
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/harris_bernard.htm Spacefacts biography of Bernard A. Harris Jr.]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070701181732/http://www.theharrisfoundation.org/about/bernard_bio/index.htm Biography] at The Harris Foundation

{{NASA Astronaut Group 13}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Bernard A. Jr.}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Temple, Texas]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American physicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American physicians]]
[[Category:People from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Space medicine doctors]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center alumni]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University System regents]]
[[Category:University of Houston alumni]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Physician astronauts]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:Members of Phi Kappa Phi]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]