Born and raised in Eastpointe, Michigan, Dr. Jerry M. Linenger received his B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy and obtained his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1981. Since then, he has obtained master's degrees in systems management and public health policy and a Ph. D. in epidemiology.

In 1992, Linenger joined astronaut selection Group XIV at the Johnson Space Center. He was selected from more than 2,000 qualified applicants and flew his first mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in September of 1994.

On January 12, 1997, Linenger departed for a five-month stay aboard the Russian Space Station Mir, during which Linenger and his Russian colleagues fought fires, system failures and beaurocracy. Having logged some 50 million miles during his 132 days, 4 hours and 1 minute in space, Linenger held the record for the longest space mission by an American male at mission completion. His book detailing his experiences, Off the Planet was published in February, 2000.

Linenger lives with his wife and two sons in northern Michigan.