Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau CC, CD, PhD, FCASI joined the Canadian Navy in 1974 to work as an engineer. He first served as a systems engineer aboard HMCS Algonquin (DDH 283) until 1976. From there he went as an instructor to the Canadian Forces Fleet School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He worked with the Naval Engineering Unit and in 1982 he was promoted to Commander.

In 1984 he was seconded to the new Canadian Astronaut Program (CAP), one of six chosen from 4,000 applicants. He flew on the shuttle Challenger, STS-41-G from October 5 to 13, 1984 as payload specialist. He was promoted to captain in 1986 and left the Navy in 1989 to become deputy director of the CAP. In 1992-93 he underwent further training to become a mission specialist. He worked as CAPCOM for a number of shuttle flights and was on two further flights himself - STS-77 and STS-97. He has logged almost 678 hours in space and is now retired as an astronaut.