He was 44 years old and lieutenant-colonel-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 For?a Aérea (AFA) and became a fighter pilot. Graduated as fixed-wing experimental test pilot from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS, 1984). Worked as test pilot at the Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia Espacial (DCTA, 1985-1998). Has been director at Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE, 1999-2000), where he coordinated the VLS-1 and VLS-2 rockets programs. Retired from FAB in 2001 as colonel-aviator and began working at Embraer as experimental test pilot, where he later became chief test pilot and manager of flight test operations.