NASA names 8 new astronauts for 2013, their first cohort in four year.  Amongst the new astronauts is Bro. Victor Glover former State Director for Japan.

The final eight astronauts were chosen from more than 6,000 applications received early last year,  and according to NASA its their second largest number ever received. The new astronauts will report for duty in August at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Bro. Victor Glover is a native of Pomona, CA. Bro. Glover is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and Naval Aviator. He has flown over 40 aircraft accumulating over 1900 flight hours, 300 carrier landings, and 24 combat missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bro. Glover was most recently stationed in Japan, deploying to various locations in the Western Pacific. Previously serving as a test pilot he was awarded the 2009 Black Engineer of the Year Awards, Modern Day Technology Leaders Award. Bro. Glover served as the Officer’s Candidate School Regimental Commander for being the top graduate in his class.  As an undergraduate at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he was a NCAA Division-I Wrestler & Football player, led efforts to establish the first student-funded outreach and retention center in the California Public University system, and was awarded the College of Engineering Service to the Community Award. Bro. Glover earned graduate degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, Air University, and the Air Command and Staff College with distinction.  He is an advocate for youth traditionally underrepresented in higher education, is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, serves on the Cal Poly College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, is on the Board of Directors for Ever Forward (Siempre Adelante), and secretly dreams of becoming a master Djembe player.