Jake Garn

Jake Garn, born in 1932, American politician, United States senator (1974-1992), and the first U.S. official to fly in space while holding elected office.

Born Edwin Jacob Garn in Richfield, Utah, he earned a B.S. degree in banking and finance from the University of Utah in 1955. After completing his bachelor's degree, Garn joined the U.S. Navy. A navy pilot, he flew antisubmarine patrols and reconnaissance missions over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and Yellow Sea. Garn returned to civilian life and settled in Salt Lake City in 1960. There he worked as a manager for insurance companies from 1960 to 1972. In addition, he served in the Naval Reserve from 1960 to 1962, and in the Utah Air National Guard from 1963 to 1979. As a national guard pilot, Garn flew many kinds of aircraft.

Garn's political career began in 1968, when he was elected to the Salt Lake City commission. In 1972 he became mayor of Salt Lake City, and two years later he ran successfully on the Republican ticket for U.S. senator. He was reelected to the Senate in 1980 and 1986, both times by a large margin. As a senator, Garn played a key role in the 1982 reform of U.S. banking laws and the 1985 tightening of U.S. export laws. He opposed the MX missile system, which would have been based in Utah.

In 1981 Garn asked the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for permission to fly aboard the space shuttle, and in 1984 NASA agreed to allow him to fly as a congressional observer. Garn underwent only six weeks of training before flying aboard the space shuttle Discovery from April 12 to 19, 1985. During the flight he served as a medical test subject and observed as the astronauts launched two satellites, one of which, the Leasat, failed to power up. He also witnessed an unscheduled spacewalk to attempt to fix the Leasat. Garn spent almost 168 hours in space. In 1994 NASA Johnson Space Center named a training facility for Garn.

In 1985 Garn retired from the armed forces reserves with the rank of brigadier general. He left the Senate in 1992, to pursue private business and consulting activities.