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Dr. Gernhardt is a NASA astronaut and the Manager of Environmental Physiology Laboratory and Principle Investigator of Prebreath Reduction Program at the Johnson Space Center.His professional honors include 4 NASA Space Flight Medals; 2 Exceptional Service Medals; 1 Exceptional Achievement Medal and 1 Distinguished Service Medal.He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Vanderbilt University in 1978, a Master of Science degree from University of Pennsylvania, in 1983, and a Doctorate in Bioengineering from University of Pennsylvania, in 1991.From 1977 to 1984, Gernhardt worked as a professional deep sea diver and project engineer on a variety of sub-sea oil-field construction and repair projects around the world. He logged over 700 deep sea dives and gathered experience in air, mixed gas, bounce bell and saturation diving.From 1984 to 1988, Gernhardt worked as Manager and then Vice President of Special Projects for Oceaneering International. During these times, he led the development of a tele-robotic system for sub-sea platform cleaning and inspection as well as a variety of new diver and robot tools.Has said in an interview that all his deep-sea diving experience helped him to become an astronaut: both jobs require you to think ahead, plan, and get used to unusual atmospheres.Dr. Gernhardt was selected by NASA in March of 1992. His many projects there included improving the safety and efficiency of space walks from the International Space Station.A four flight veteran, Dr. Gernhardt has logged over 43 days in space, including 4 spacewalks totaling 23 hours and 16 minutes. He was a mission specialist on (Space Transportation System) STS-69 in 1995, STS-83 in 1997, STS-94 in 1997 and STS-104 in 2001. Additionally he was crew member on the NASA Extreme Enviroment Mission Operations One and Commander of the successive eight multi-day underwater missions.His background expertise helped to serve as a submersible pilot on the Pavilion Lake Expedition, which focused on exploring a deep water lake in western Canada, where unusual life forms (called microbiolites) were discovered.Dr. Gernhardt was one of two astronauts to perform a spacewalk to evaluate future Space Station tools and hardware, logging 6 hours and 46 minutes of EVA. Mission duration was 260 hours, 29 minutes, and 8 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits of the Earth.