Astronaut Mark Kelly Retired Thursday

Astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a West Orange native who flew four missions aboard the space shuttle to the International Space Station .

The 1 p.m. ceremony, held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, will be attended by a host of dignitaries – including Kelly’s wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Az.). Giffords continues to recover from a

Vice President Joe Biden will officiate at the ceremony, delivering the retirement oath as well as a few remarks.

At today’s retirement ceremony, Kelly will be awarded the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross medals.

Kelly is a 1982 Mountain High School graduate and a former West Orange First Aid Squad volunteer. His parents, Richard and Patricia, retired from the West Orange Police Department more than 10 years ago. Kelly joined NASA in April 1996. His twin brother, Scott, will remain at NASA. Kelly flew three shuttle missions as commander.

Kelly received a bachelor's degree in marine engineering and nautical science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating with highest honors in 1986. In 1994, he received an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

In December 1987, Kelly became a naval aviator and made two deployments to the Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier USS Midway, flying 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He has logged more than 5,000 hours in more than 50 different aircraft and has over 375 carrier landings.

Kelly has received numerous medals including the Defense Superior Service Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster); Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal (with valor device and three bronze service stars); Navy Commendation Medal (with valor device and one bronze service star) and the Navy Achievement Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal (with one bronze service star).

He also has received the Navy Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star); Navy Unit Commendation (with one bronze service star); Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with one bronze service star); Overseas Service Ribbon; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); NASA Exceptional Service Medal and NASA Space Flight Medal (with three bronze service stars).