Background
Runco,, Mario was born on January 26, 1952 in Bronx, New York, United States. Son of Mario and Filomena (Ragusa) Runco.
Astronaut meteorologist researcher
Runco,, Mario was born on January 26, 1952 in Bronx, New York, United States. Son of Mario and Filomena (Ragusa) Runco.
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, City College of New York, 1974. Doctor of Science (honorary), City College of New York, 1999. Master of Science in Atmospheric Physics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1976.
Research hydrologist United States Geological Survey, Long Island, New York, 1976—1977. State trooper New Jersey State Police, 1977—1978. Commissioned ensign United States Navy, 1978.
Research meteorologist Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California, 1978—1981. Watch and meteorological officer United States Ship Nassau (LHA-4), 1981—1983. Laboratory instructor Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, 1984—1985.
Commanding officer Oceanographic Unit USNS Chauvenet, 1985—1986. Fleet environmental services officer Naval Pacific Meterology and Oceanography Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1986—1987. Astronaut National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center, Houston, since 1987.
Mission specialist Space Shuttles Atlantis (STS-44), 1991, Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-54), 1993, Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-77), 1996. Space shuttle flight software avionics laboratory test pilot Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, 1987—1992, capsule communicator Mission Control Center (CAPCOM), 1989—1994, lead science and utilization International Space Station Science Window/Window Research Facility, since 1993, Earth and planetary scientist, since 1994, project manager Lunar Habitation Systems project, since 2004, lead spacecraft window optical requirements, since 2005.
Married Susan Kay Friess. 2 children.