Sunita Williams Husband: Sunita Williams has been stuck on the International Space Station for 9 months. Her co-passenger, Butch Wilmore, is also there with her. After such a long time, Sunita Williams is finally returning to Earth. She is originally from India. These days, she is making headlines for various reasons. Many people are curious about her husband and what he does. So, let’s find out more about him.
Sunita Williams’ Love Story
Sunita Williams’ husband’s name is Michael J. Williams. They have been married for 20 years. Michael stays away from the limelight. According to reports, he works as a US Marshal, responsible for enforcing the law and protecting the judiciary. His experience as a helicopter pilot has given him a strong sense of risk-taking and discipline, qualities that match his wife’s adventurous space career.
How Did Sunita and Michael Meet?
Sunita Williams and Michael J. Williams first met in 1987 at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Before joining NASA, Sunita used to fly helicopters. Their friendship slowly turned into love, and later, they got married in the presence of family and friends.
Michael Williams and Hindu Traditions
According to reports, Michael follows Hindu customs and has always supported Sunita’s spiritual beliefs. During her space missions, Sunita Williams has carried sacred Hindu texts, including the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, the Om symbol, and a painting of Lord Shiva.
Sunita Williams’ Family
Sunita Williams and her husband do not have any children. However, Williams once expressed a desire to adopt a girl from Ahmedabad. She also has a deep love for animals. Her pet dog, Gorby, a Jack Russell Terrier, was featured on National Geographic’s show Dog Whisperer. Gorby has since passed away. The couple now has three more pets: Gunner, Bailey, and Rotor.
Sunita Williams’ Background and Education
Sunita Williams was born in Euclid, Ohio, but she considers Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. Her father, Deepak Pandya, was an Indian-American neuroanatomist from Mehsana, Gujarat, and her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, is a Slovenian-American. Sunita is the youngest of three siblings. Her brother, Jay Thomas, is four years older, and her sister, Dina Annad, is three years older.
Williams’ paternal family is from Jhulasan, India. She graduated from Needham High School in 1983. Later, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the US Naval Academy in 1987 and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.
What Does Michael Williams Say About Sunita?
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal in August 2024, Michael described the International Space Station as his wife’s “happy place,” referring to her comfort and dedication to working in space.
Sunita Williams’ Mother’s Words
In an interview with NewsNation’s Andrew Cuomo, Sunita Williams’ mother shared that she does not give her daughter any advice, saying, “She knows what to do. She is an experienced astronaut.” She also mentioned that she had spoken to Sunita two days before, and her daughter assured her, “Everything is going to be fine. Don’t worry about me.”