 In December 1987 , Kelly became a Naval Aviator and received initial training on the A @-@ 6E Intruder attack aircraft . He was then assigned to Attack Squadron 115 ( VA @-@ 115 ) in Atsugi , Japan , and made two deployments to the Persian Gulf on the aircraft carrier USS Midway , flying 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm . After receiving his master 's degree he attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School from June 1993 to June 1994 . He has logged more than 5 @,@ 000 hours in more than 50 different aircraft and has over 375 carrier landings . 
