Biography

Born in Mexico City, Dr. Antuñano earned his MD from the National Autonomous University of Mexico School of Medicine. He completed training in Aviation Medicine and Aircraft Accident Investigation at Mexico’s National Center of Aviation Medicine, followed in 1985 by a residency in Aerospace Medicine and a Master of Science degree at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.

In 1998 he was selected for a postdoctoral research associateship through the U.S. National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. There, he contributed to research on personal cooling technologies for individuals working in nuclear, biological, and chemical protective equipment—work at the intersection of human performance, operational safety, and advanced medical technology.

Dr. Antuñano joined the Federal Aviation Administration in 1992 and held leadership positions at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, including Manager of the Medical Education Division and Medical Certification Division. From January 2001 through June 30, 2026, he served as Director of CAMI, providing senior executive leadership for FAA aerospace medicine programs spanning pilot medical certification, aeromedical education, aeromedical and human-factors research, and occupational health. He retired after a 34-year FAA career as the longest-serving senior executive in FAA history.

He currently serves as Professor of Aerospace Medicine, Chief Technologist, and Medical Innovation Officer in the Center for Aerospace & Extreme Environments Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. In this role, he supports the development of innovative procedures and technologies that enhance human health, resilience, performance, and safety in aerospace and other extreme environments. He also supports the establishment of new aerospace medicine master’s degree and residency training programs at UCF.

A sought-after global speaker, Dr. Antuñano has delivered 1,150 professional presentations, invited lectures, and panel sessions in 46 countries. He has authored or co-authored 65 scientific publications on aerospace medicine, aviation safety, human factors, and related disciplines.

His contributions have been recognized with 111 awards and honors, including the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Achievement, the FAA Office of Aviation Safety’s Champion of Safety Award, the International Academy of Astronautics Life Sciences Award, and the Aerospace Medical Association’s Louis H. Bauer Founders Award—one of the field’s highest distinctions for significant contributions to aerospace medicine.

Dr. Antuñano has held leadership roles across the international aerospace medicine community. He is Past President of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, the U.S. Aerospace Medical Association, the U.S. Space Medicine Association, and the Iberoamerican Association of Aerospace Medicine. He is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association, Aerospace Human Factors Association, and International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, and a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He has also been named an honorary member of aviation and aerospace medicine societies in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Greece, Mexico, Peru, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Dr. Antuñano also serves serves as voluntary Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and Adjunct Professor at the National University of Colombia School of Medicine.

He has had experience as private pilot, parachutist, scuba diver, and mountain climber, Dr. Antuñano has brought firsthand experience in aviation and extreme environments to a career dedicated to protecting the people who work, travel, and explore beyond conventional limits.