Stew Smith on Astronaut Chris Cassidy

CM SEAL Team blogger: Stew Smith

I actually turned over my job at Task Unit Alpha DDS platoon commander to young Chris Cassidy in 1995. At the time I had no idea he was a super stud at BUD/S (Honor Man) and had the academic ability to be an astronaut too. He was always a very modest and humble person. It is cool to tell my kids I know an astronaut AND he was a Navy SEAL too!!!

Stew Smith
USN 1991-1999

Chris Cassidy, Navy SEAL Astronaut

CM Teammates – NEWS FLASH – former SEAL Teammate, Chris Cassidy, landed today after being the 500th person in space (and one of only a couple of SEAL astronauts)! I first met Chris at SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV)Team TWO in Virginia Beach. I had just completed my first deployment as an SDV Platoon Commander and Chris was just arriving from BUD/S (SEAL basic training). A quiet, young professional who never boasted of the fact he was honor-man for his SEAL class – a rare accomplishment for an officer. Chris assumed command of my swim-buddy’s platoon – Stew Smith – as the Dry Deck Shelter Officer of Task Unit ALPHA.

My most vivid memory of Chris, besides his quiet professionalism, was his response when I asked him what his SEAL Team goals were – his response, after a little coaxing, almost as if he was embarrassed to state them out loud, was he wanted to be an astronaut. Not just any astronaut, he wanted to be a SEAL astronaut.

CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS – MIKE CHARLIE – your mission is complete! Today is a great day for Chris and another reminder that you are only limited by your dreams and your courage to pursue them!

HOOYAH CHRIS!

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN