Peggy Whitson is an incredible role model for all women and girls. An astronaut, Whitson holds multiple American records in a male-dominated field.

In early 2017, Whitson set the US record for most cumulative days in space. This record was previously held by astronaut Jeff Williams, who spent a total of 534 days in space according to NASA.

But that isn’t her only accomplishment.

Whitson also set the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut–completing her eighth walk in March 2017.

Whitson is also the first woman to ever command the space station–and she has commanded it twice. She first commanded the space station in 2008 and again in 2017.

An Iowa native, Whitson received a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1985. She began working at NASA in 1989.

President Trump commended Peggy Whitson in the oval office for her accomplishments at NASA:

"On behalf of our nation and, frankly, on behalf of our world, I'd like to thank you," President Trump said.

"It's actually a huge honor to break a record like this," Whitson responded. "It's an honor for me to be representing all the folks at NASA who make space travel possible and make me setting this record feasible."

Independent Women’s Voice is proud to highlight and #ChampionWomen like Peggy Whitson.