Astronaut (Lieutenant Colonel) Ellison Shoji Onizuka

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift off, killing all seven astronauts aboard. One of the crew, Ellison S. Onizuka, had become the first Japanese American astronaut the year before when he flew on a secret mission aboard the shuttle Discovery.

Ellison Shoji Onizuka (June 24, 1946-January 28, 1986) was born and raised on Kona, Hawaii. He received a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1968 and a Masters Degree in 1969 from the University of Colorado. The following year, he joined the U.S. Air Force and became a flight engineer. Onizuka later attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and in 1978, was selected by NASA for the astronaut program.

Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news