NASA's Erin Edwards Leads Crew Operations for International Space Station

As a capcom and operations officer, Edwards manages astronaut training and mission control communications

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Erin Edwards, a Canadian military pilot, has been working at NASA's Johnson Space Center for the past two years as a member of the Crew Operations Office. In this role, she and her team manage astronaut candidate training schedules, including field medical exercises, land survival, and underwater operations. Edwards also works in the International Space Station Mission Control Center as a capsule communicator, or capcom, where she must be fluent in the language of the spacecraft and its operations to clearly relay important information to the crew.

Why it matters

Edwards' diverse background as a military helicopter pilot, Navy diver, and mining engineer has proven valuable in her work at NASA, highlighting how different experiences can benefit complex, multifaceted programs like human spaceflight. Her role as a capcom and operations officer is critical in supporting the continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, which has now reached a milestone of 25 years.

The details

As a capcom, Edwards must be able to clearly communicate with astronauts aboard the space station, especially during dynamic operations. In addition to her capcom duties, she has recently been assigned as the TH57 Helicopter Project Pilot at the Astronaut Office Division to help integrate that fleet into Space Flight Readiness Training. Edwards' path to NASA was unexpected, as she transitioned from the Canadian military to become the first Canadian non-astronaut to be posted as a capcom and operations officer at Johnson Space Center.

  • Edwards has been at NASA for two years, with a three-year term.
  • November 2, 2025 marked 25 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station.

The players

Erin Edwards

A Canadian military pilot who has been working at NASA's Johnson Space Center for the past two years as a member of the Crew Operations Office, managing astronaut candidate training and serving as a capsule communicator in the International Space Station Mission Control Center.

James 'Vegas' Kelly

Edwards' boss at NASA, who selected her to take over NASA astronaut Jonny Kim's operations job after only a few months at the agency.

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What they’re saying

“Just go for it! You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, as Wayne Gretzky said. My background as a military helicopter pilot, Navy diver, and mining engineer may appear to have no relevance to NASA, but that diverse experience has turned out to be useful here as an operations officer for astronaut training. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't thrown my hat in the ring. No matter your technical background, there's probably a place for it in spaceflight. Your experience has unique ways of benefiting such complex, multifaceted programs like spaceflight—so give it a shot!”

— Erin Edwards (nasa.gov)

What’s next

Edwards will continue to play a key role in supporting the International Space Station's operations and astronaut training as the station reaches new milestones in its 25-year history of continuous human presence.

The takeaway

Erin Edwards' diverse background and willingness to take on new challenges have made her a valuable asset to NASA's Crew Operations Office, highlighting how different skills and experiences can contribute to the complex work of human spaceflight. Her story underscores the importance of pursuing opportunities, even if they may not seem directly relevant, as they can lead to unexpected and rewarding career paths.