He was 37 years old and captain-aviator in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) at the time of his selection as one of the five finalists astronaut candidates for the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), in 1998. Earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Science from Academia da Força Aérea (AFA, 1982) and became a fighter pilot. Later, earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA, 1994) and graduated as fixed-wing experimental test pilot from Instituto de Pesquisas e Ensaios em Voo (IPEV, 1995). Earned both Master of Science (1998) and Doctor of Science (2004) degrees in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from ITA, where he researched space trajectories optimization. Also holds a MBA in Strategic Planning from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF, 2007). Worked as test pilot (1995-2000) and head of flight test operations (1997-2000) at Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE). Has been director at IAE (2005-2007), attaché of Defense and Aeronautics in Italy (2008-2010), and head of the technical sub-department (2010-2014) at the Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia Aeroespacial (DCTA), where he managed the VLS and VLM rockets programs. Also served as professor at Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (2010-2013). Retired from FAB as major-brigadier while working as deputy vice-director at the DCTA, in 2015. Currently works as experimental test pilot at Embraer.