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Colonel Timothy J. (TJ) Creamer

By Lindsay GrantSeptember 1, 2020

2020 Hall of Fame Inductee

Loyola College (1982)

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Expedition 22 Crew Portrait
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 7 July 2009) --- Expedition 22 crew members take a break from training at NASA's Johnson Space Center to pose for a crew portrait. From the left (front row) are NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, commander; and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, flight engineer. From the left (back row) are NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all flight engineers. (Photo Credit: NASA) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Soldier and NASA flight engineer Col. Timothy J. Creamer
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, U.S. Army Soldier and NASA flight engineer Col. Timothy J. Creamer checks out the systems inside the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft during a dress rehearsal at the launch site Dec. 10, 2009 in preparation for the Dec. 21 launch to the International Space Station. Creamer will launch with Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for a six-month stay on the complex. They will join Expedition 22 commander Col. (Ret.) Jeffrey Williams of NASA and Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, who have been on the station since October. (December 10, 2009) (Photo Credit: Photographer: Victor Zelentsov) VIEW ORIGINAL

Col. Timothy Creamer’s esteemed career has exceeded his earthly ties, having logged a total of 163 days in space – and it all began with Army ROTC. Creamer commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant from Loyola College in Maryland, and entered Army Aviation School thereafter, where he graduated as the Distinguished Graduate from his class in August 1983.

He was subsequently assigned to the 1st Armored Division as a section leader, platoon leader, flight operations officer and as a personnel staff officer for the 501st Attack Helicopter Battalion. In 1987, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a commander of an air cavalry troop in the 17th Cavalry and later as the personnel officer of the 82nd Aviation Brigade.

Following this assignment, Creamer completed a Master of Science degree in physics at MIT in 1992 and was assigned to the Department of Physics at USMA, and attended military schools such as the Army Parachutist Course, Army Jumpmaster Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College.

In 1995, Creamer was assigned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center as a space shuttle vehicle integration test engineer, and prior to his astronaut selection in 1998, he worked as a space operations officer with the Army Space Command stationed in Houston, Texas, and supported eight shuttle missions. During the period of December 21, 2009 through June 2, 2010, Creamer served as part of the Expedition 22 crew on the International Space Station, the second largest-ever peaceful investment in the collaboration of nations, second only to the United Nations. In completing this long term mission, Creamer logged a total of 163 days in space.

COL (Ret.) Creamer’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster); Air Force Space and Missile Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation School, Master Army Aviator, Senior Parachutist, and Jump Master. He is also a recipient of the Russian Federation of Astronautics Yuri Gagarin medal, and the Russian Medal of Merit for Space Exploration. Additionally, he has been awarded the Silver Snoopy, NASA’s Space Flight Medal, NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, and NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal.

About the Army ROTC Hall of Fame

The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in 2016 as part of the ROTC Centennial celebration. The first class (2016) inducted 326 former ROTC Cadets who had distinguished themselves in their military or civilian career.

The Hall of Fame honors graduates of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. It provides a prestigious and tangible means of recognizing and honoring Army ROTC Alumni who have made lasting, significant contributions to the Nation, the Army and the history and traditions of the Army ROTC Program.

Read more about all 16 of the 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees.

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