Caldeiro is the son of Jose and Carmen Caldeiro of Flushing, NY. In 1984 he earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering degree from the University of Arizona, and received a master’s degree in industrial engineering management from the University of Central Florida in 1995.
Caldeiro has been employed by NASA at the Kennedy Space Center since 1991, where he is a lead engineer in the Systems Assurance Office. As a child, he built and flew radio controlled airplanes and gliders, and obtained his pilot’s license at 18. He is a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and recently built his own high-performance two-seat composite airplane. He is a licensed amateur radio operator, enjoys snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, sky diving and woodworking.
This year’s astronaut candidate class is the 16th since the first class of Mercury test pilots was selected in 1959. From last year’s original pool of 2,432 applicants, Caldeiro was one of only 35 astronaut candidates selected. He will begin astronaut training on Aug. 12 in Houston, TX.
NOTICE TO EDITORS: Photos are available upon request.