|
|
![William F. Readdy-NASA Photo](readdymed.jpg) |
![William F. Readdy-NASA Photo](readdynasa.jpg)
On Discovery's forward flight
deck, Astronaut William F. Readdy, pilot, wears shades to
block out bright sunshine. Much of the sunshine that normally
would be coming through forward windows is blocked by an array
of portable computers. |
WILLIAM F. READDY
ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR
OFFICE OF SPACE FLIGHT
NASA HEADQUARTERS
PERSONAL DATA: Born January 24, 1952, in Quonset Point, Rhode
Island, but considers McLean, Virginia, to be his hometown. Married
to Colleen Nevius. They have two sons and a daughter. He enjoys sailing,
racquet sports, flying, and reading.
EDUCATION: Graduated from McLean High School, McLean, Virginia,
in 1970; bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering (with
honors) from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974. Distinguished graduate,
U.S. Naval Test Pilot School 1980.
ORGANIZATIONS: Associate Fellow, Society of Experimental
Test Pilots, Association of Space Explorers and Explorers Club.
SPECIAL HONORS: Recipient of the Legion of Merit,
the Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal,
two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, two NASA Exceptional Service
Medals, three NASA Space Flight Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal,
the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary
medal, two National Defense Service Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and various unit and service awards.
U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Instructor of the Year (1984). NASA Space
Flight Safety Award. Federation Aeronautique Internationale awards
include: the Kamarov Diploma (STS-51), the De La Vaulx Medal (STS-79)
and a World Record Certificate (STS-79).
EXPERIENCE: Readdy graduated from Annapolis in 1974, and
earned his wings as a naval aviator. Following fleet training in the
A-6 “Intruder” at NAS Oceana, Virginia, he joined Attack
Squadron Eighty-five aboard the USS Forrestal deployed to the North
Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1976 until 1980. Upon completion of
the Naval Test Pilot School, he served as project test pilot on a
variety of programs at Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Following
a tour as a test pilot instructor, he reported in 1984 to the USS
Coral Sea, on Caribbean and Mediterranean deployments. In 1986 Readdy
transferred into the Naval Reserve to join NASA and served as an instructor
pilot and unit commander until his naval retirement in August 2000.
He has logged 7,000 flying hours in over 60 types of fixed wing and
helicopters and over 550 carrier landings.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Readdy joined NASA's Johnson Space Center
in October 1986 as a research pilot at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas,
where he served as program manager for the highly-modified Boeing
747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. He was selected as an astronaut in the
1987 Group. He served in numerous support roles including: Training
Officer; Safety Officer; Operations Development Branch Chief; NASA
Director of Operations, Star City, Russia; Stafford Task Force; and
the first manager of Space Shuttle Program Development charged with
upgrading the Space Shuttle. Readdy is currently Associate Administrator,
NASA HQ Office of Space Flight that has oversight for the Marshall,
Kennedy, Stennis and Johnson Space Centers as well as programmatic
oversight for International Space Station, Space Shuttle, Space Communications
and Space Launch Vehicles.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: Readdy is a veteran pilot astronaut
with three space flights, STS-42 (January 22-30, 1992), STS-51 (September
12-22, 1993) and, most recently, STS-79 (September 16-26, 1996). Readdy
has logged over 672 hours in space.
|
Astronaut Photos and Biographies-
Courtesy of NASA
Lucky Bag Photos- Courtesy of USNA Archives
|