Former astronaut to serve as grand marshal of Whitefish Winter Carnival parade

Former NASA astronaut John B. Herrington will serve as the grand marshal of the Whitefish Winter Carnival Grand Parade, along with the Whitefish High School space club, on Saturday. 

Herrington is a retired U.S. Navy commander who flew aboard space shuttle Endeavour on the 16th assembly mission to the International Space Station. The parade makes its way through downtown Whitefish beginning at 3 p.m. 

This year's carnival carries an outer space theme of "Out of this World," making Herrington's selection fitting. 

During the mission to the International Space Station, he traveled more than 5.6 million miles, logged over 330 hours in space, and performed three spacewalks totaling nearly 21 hours. As an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, NASA recognizes Herrington as the first citizen of a federally recognized tribe to fly in space, marking a historic milestone in American spaceflight. 

Following his retirement from the U.S. Navy and NASA, Herrington continued his commitment to education and mentorship. He completed a 4,300-mile bicycle journey across the United States, visiting Native American reservations and NASA Explorer Schools to share his story and encourage young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

At age 52, he earned a doctorate in education, focusing his research on the factors that motivate and engage Native American students in STEM fields. 

“John Herrington’s life story reflects curiosity, perseverance, and service,” said Winter Carnival organizers. “Honoring him alongside the Whitefish High School Space Club highlights the importance of inspiring the next generation while celebrating the wonder of discovery.” 

Now a resident of Northwestern Montana, Herrington remains active as a speaker and author. He has written the children’s book "Mission to Space" and is currently working on his memoir. He lives in the mountains with his wife Danielle. 

For a full list of Winter Carnival events, visit whitefishwintercarnival.com.