Bernard Harris

Since 1986, Dr. Harris has served the space program, at NASA Ames Space Flight Center, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center and NASA Headquarters in various roles as research scientist, flight surgeon, astronaut, and advisor. During his NASA career, Dr. Bernard Harris conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation, where he developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space.

A veteran astronaut for more than thirty years, Harris served as mission specialist on STS-55 and was the Payload Commander on STS-63. He has logged more than 438 hours and traveled more than 7.2 million miles in space.

On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform an extra-vehicular activity during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights.

Harris is currently CEO & Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc. – a venture capital firm, that invests in early to mid-stage Healthcare technologies and companies. Previously, he served as CEO and Executive Director of the National Math & Science Initiative, leading the organization’s efforts to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in communities across the country. He has been involved in math and science education for more than 25 years through his philanthropy as founder of the Harris Institute & Foundation.

A member of the Board of Directors for Raytheon Technologies, MassMutual, Solventum and U.S. Physical Therapy, Harris also served as a Board Director/Trustee for Salient Midstream & MLP Fund and Salient MF Trust, Barings Fund and BBDC. Additionally, he is on the nonprofit boards of the Texas Medical Center (past Chair), the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and the Harris Institute & Foundation.