IL HR0498

Congratulates Major Cameron Jones of the U.S. Air Force from Savanna, Illinois on his selection as a NASA astronaut candidate in September 2025

Major Jones was selected from over 8,000 applicants, with only 10 candidates chosen for NASA's Class of 2025

Jones earned bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and compiled over 1,600 flight hours (including 150 combat hours) in more than 30 aircraft types, including the F-22 Raptor

He attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB

Jones is the second NASA astronaut candidate from Savanna, Illinois, following Dale Gardner who was selected in 1978 and flew on Space Shuttle missions in 1983 and 1984