Joshua Kutryk

Joshua Kutryk (born March 21, 1982) is a Canadian astronaut, engineer, and pilot. He was selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as one of the two members (the other one being Jenni Sidey) of the 2017 CSA group.

Early Life & Education
Joshua Kutryk was born on March 21, 1982 in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2004. He later earned a master's degree in space studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (in 2009), a master's degree in flight test engineering from the Air University (United States Air Force) (in 2012), and a master's degree in defence studies from the Royal Military College of Canada (in 2014).

Career
Prior to joining the Canadian Space Agency, Kutryk worked as an experimental test pilot and a fighter pilot in the Canadian forces in Cold Lake, Alberta, where he was head of the unit in charge of flight-testing fighter aircraft. He earned the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. Kutryk was most notably responsible for the testing of new aircraft technologies on the CF-18 plane.

Kutryk has served in Libya and Afghanistan.

In 2012, he received the Liethen-Tittle Award for the top test pilot graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. This award was also received by fellow astronaut Chris Hadfield in 1988.

CSA Selection and Astronaut Career
Kutryk was selected by the Canadian Space Agency to undergo training as an astronaut as part of the 2017 CSA Group, the fourth Canadian astronaut recruitment campaign. Kutryk and Dr. Jenni Sidey were selected among a large field of qualified candidates.

Kutryk had previously applied to become an astronaut in the 2009 CSA selection, where astronauts David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen were selected. Kutryk was shortlisted to undergo a yearlong testing program and ultimately found himself in the top 16 finalists of some 5,350 candidates. His perseverance in successfully applying again in 2017 is highlighted on the CSA website.

As of July 2017, Kutryk has relocated to Houston, Texas, to start the two-year NASA Astronaut Candidate Training Program at the Johnson Space Center. He is a member of the 2017 NASA astronaut class.