When Space Shuttle Endeavour launched November 30, 2000, Marc Garneau became the first Canadian to fly three missions in space. Marc was born February 23, 1949 in Quebec City Quebec. He grew up attending primary and secondary schools in Quebec City and Saint-Jean, Quebec, and in London, England. In 1970, he graduated from Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario with a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics. Three years later in 1973, he received a Doctorate in electrical engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England. Marc attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College of Toronto in 1982-83.

In 1969 and again in 1970, he sailed across the Atlantic in a 59-foot yawl with 12 other crewmen. He enjoys flying, scuba diving, squash, tennis, car mechanics, and home repairs. Married to Pamela Soame of Ottawa, Canada, he has three children

Marc is an Honorary Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia, and the Navy League of Canada. In 1988, he was named Honorary Member of the Canadian Society of Aviation Medicine. Marc is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1997); NASA Space Flight Medals (1996, 1984); the Canadian Decoration (military) (1980); the Athlone Fellowship (1970); and the National Research Council (NRC) Bursary (1972). He was awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of Ottawa (1997); the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (1990); the Université Laval, Québec (1985); the Technical University of Nova Scotia(1985); and the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario (1985). Marc was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984, and was co-recipient of the F.W. (Casey) Baldwin Award in 1985 for the best paper in the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal.

Marc was a combat systems engineer in HMCS Algonquin, 1974-76. While serving as an instructor in naval weapon systems at the Canadian Forces Fleet School in Halifax, 1976-77, he designed a simulator for use in training weapons officers in the use of missile systems aboard Tribal class destroyers. He served as project engineer in naval weapon systems in Ottawa from 1977 to 1980. He returned to Halifax with the Naval Engineering Unit which troubleshoots and performs trials on ship-fitted equipment, and helped develop an aircraft-towed target system for the scoring of naval gunnery accuracy. Promoted to Commander in 1982 while at Staff College, he was transferred to Ottawa in 1983 and became design authority for naval communications and electronic warfare equipment and systems. In January 1986, he was promoted to Captain. He retired from the Navy in 1989. He is one of six Canadian astronauts selected in December 1983. He was seconded to the Canadian Astronaut Program from the Department of National Defence in February 1984 to begin astronaut training. He flew as a payload specialist on Shuttle Mission 41-G, October 5-13, 1984. He was named Deputy Director of the Canadian Astronaut Program in 1989, providing technical and program support in the preparation of experiments to fly during future Canadian missions. He was selected for astronaut candidate training in July 1992. Marc reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed a one-year training and evaluation program, and is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. He initially worked technical issues for the Astronaut Office Robotics Integration Team. He subsequently served as spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control during Shuttle flights. A veteran of three space flights (STS-41G in 1984, STS-77 in 1996 and STS-97 in 2000), Marc has logged over 677 hours in space. Effective February 2001, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Canadian Space Agency.