Navy approves retirement of former astronaut Lisa Nowak
July 28th, 2011
10:52 PM ET

Navy approves retirement of former astronaut Lisa Nowak

The Navy has approved the retirement of former Astronaut Lisa Nowak with a characterization of service as "other than honorable," a spokesman said Thursday.

Nowak pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor battery in 2009 stemming from an attack on a romantic rival in a Florida airport parking lot. The plea deal spared her jail time.

The Navy reviewed records of Nowak's plea deal, her personal background and statements from victim Colleen Shipman, Nowak's retirement was approved, the Navy Office of Information said in a statement.

"Captain Nowak's conduct fell well short of that expected of senior officers in our Navy and demonstrated a complete disregard for the well-being of a fellow service member," Assistant Secretary of Navy Manpower and Reserve Affairs Juan Garcia said.

Ex-astronaut in love triangle case avoids prison with plea deal
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soundoff (36 Responses)
  1. darkguardian1314

    What really makes it bad is that a Navy Captain in a high profile position would do such a thing. We enlisted always pay for screw ups the officers make–just like tail hook. Leadership by example. Until now, astronauts doing things like this was unthinkable.

    July 29, 2011 at 8:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • Crocker

      Just be glad she never made it into orbit commanding a shuttle mission.

      July 30, 2011 at 12:13 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Name*adam

    She is hot,good for her and good luck

    July 29, 2011 at 9:00 pm | Report abuse |
  3. mac316

    whats love got to do with it it is very obvious that the lady was SPACED out ...... get it? spaced out (astronaut) maybe she can STAR in a tv show .Get it star? astronaut? or Maybe she will just Moon everybody get it MOON ? astronaut? ok ok ok so you dont get it jeeeesh some peoples kids

    July 30, 2011 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
    • Crocker

      Depends on whether or not you're trying to be funny or not. Get it? Depends?

      July 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Josie

    Does this mean she gets paid a pension and benefits?

    July 30, 2011 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
  5. Dave

    Even if she is busted down, the retirement is based on earning over the last three years so yes she retires with O-6 pay, but is listed as an O-5. Officers cannot receive dishonorable discharges, OTH is the worst it gets.

    July 30, 2011 at 3:29 pm | Report abuse |
  6. CNN Wire

    Come on people, she's a pilot for crying out loud! She was only trying to protect her "joy stick"

    July 30, 2011 at 5:57 pm | Report abuse |
  7. MegaTron

    &#74apan

    July 30, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Sean

    If this was an enlisted person, they would have been court martialed or discharged without a pension. There are two sets of rules in the military

    July 31, 2011 at 8:57 am | Report abuse |
  9. Donald in CA

    Is the tea party still hiring? They can use another unstable like lisa.

    July 31, 2011 at 4:19 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Vince in NJ

    What has happened to our Astronaut acceptance program? She must have been an exceptional canidate at one time to make it through the acceptance process and subsequent training. Has the process been so watered down that it lets a less than stable individual become an Astronuat or is the program so diificult as to stress an indiviaul past the point of normal reasoning? In any case the Astronuat selection and training process might need a good review.

    August 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Dave

    Lets see she got a Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, she got a masters from the Naval Postgraduate School in aeronautical/aerospace engineering. She graduated from the Naval Test Pilots as a flight test engineer. Additionally, since she is over 20 years of service, her retirement goes up 5% for every two years. As stated previously, she will get Captain's pay, even though she is listed as a Commander...that amounts to approximately $6622 per month. I am sure that there are several aerospace companies that will hire her. Unfortunately, she will come out of this just fine.

    August 2, 2011 at 4:47 pm | Report abuse |
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