Astronaut, Congressman to Visit Lazar

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) will welcome Colonel Randolph Bresnik (USMC), a NASA astronaut, to several local schools, including the . 

Col. Bresnik will visit with hundreds of local students to talk about his experiences as an astronaut and the contributions of space exploration to the advancement of math and science. 

Col. Bresnik and Rep. Frelinghuysen will visit the Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville, Lincoln Park Middle School and East Hanover Middle School.

A Marine Corps fighter pilot, Col. Bresnik completed Astronaut Candidate Training in February 2006.  That training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. 

Bresnik completed his first flight on STS-129 in November 2009 and has logged over 259 hours in space, including 11 hours and 50 minutes in two extra vehicular activities (EVAs). STS-129 (November 16-29, 2009) was the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. During the mission, Bresnik performed two spacewalks for a total of 11 hours and 50 minutes of EVA. The STS-129 mission was completed in 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits and returned to Earth bringing back with them another NASA astronaut who had completed her tour of duty aboard the Space Station. 

Col. Bresnik was born on September 11, 1967 in Fort Knox, Kentucky and considers Santa Monica, California to be his hometown. He is married to the former Rebecca Burgin of Pompton Plains, New Jersey. They have a son and a daughter.

Read Col. Bresnik's full biography here.