BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey hosted a meet-and-greet Thursday at the State House with astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams and local students.

 

Williams, a retired Navy officer, is from Needham. She is the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft during the 2024 Boeing Crew Flight Test and recently returned from nine months on board the International Space Station after technical problems stretched out the planned eight-day mission.

 

She was joined by students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, British International School of Boston Middle School, Boys and Girls Club of Boston students and members of the Science Club for Girls. The gathering was in part to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and math. 

 

"It was great to welcome Suni Williams to the State House and back home to Massachusetts," said Healey. "Her resilience and dedication to service serves as an incredible model for young people across the state, reminding them that their potential is as limitless as outer space. We hope that some of the students who joined us today will be inspired to pursue careers in STEM and truly reach for the stars." 

 

Williams graduated from Needham High School and the U.S. Naval Academy, earning her master of science degree in engineering management from Florida Institute of Technology. An experienced naval pilot, she began her NASA astronaut training in 1998. She has been to the ISS three times, totaled more than 62 hours in spacewalk time and more than 600 days in space, and ran the Boston Marathon in 2007 while on the ISS. Her hometown named its elementary school after her.

 

"As chair of our STEM Advisory Council, I’m so glad that students across Massachusetts have such an amazing role model in Suni Williams," said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. "We thank her for visiting the State House today and sharing her inspirational story with us all." 

 

During the visit, Healey awarded Williams with a Governor's Citation in recognition of her dedicated service to her country and space exploration.