Frederick D. Gregory
Frederick Gregory | |
---|---|
Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
In office August 12, 2002 – November 4, 2005 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | James R. Thompson Jr. |
Succeeded by | Shana Dale |
Personal details | |
Born | Frederick Drew Gregory January 7, 1941 NASA astronaut |
Rank | Colonel, USAF |
Time in space | 18d 23h 4m |
Selection | NASA Group 8 (1978) |
Missions | STS-51-B STS-33 STS-44 |
Mission insignia | |
Frederick Drew Gregory (born January 7, 1941) is a former
Early life and education
Gregory was born on January 7, 1941, in
Gregory was raised in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Anacostia High School. He attended the United States Air Force Academy after being nominated by Adam Clayton Powell Jr.; there, he received his Air Force commission and an undergraduate degree in military engineering.[5]
Military career
After graduating from the Air Force Academy, Gregory earned his wings after helicopter school, flew in Vietnam, transitioned to fighter aircraft, attended the Navy Test Pilot School, and then conducted testing as an engineering test pilot for both the Air Force and NASA. He also received a master's degree in
During his time in the Air Force, Gregory logged approximately 7,000 hours in more than 50 types of aircraft as a helicopter, fighter and test pilot. He flew 550 combat rescue missions in Vietnam.[6]
NASA career
Gregory was selected as an astronaut in January 1978. His technical assignments included: Astronaut Office representative at the Kennedy Space Center during initial Orbiter checkout and launch support for
STS-51B
STS-33
When
STS-44
STS-44 launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 24, 1991. During 110 orbits of the Earth, the crew successfully deployed their prime payload, the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite. They worked on a variety of secondary payloads ranging from the Military Man in Space experiment designed to evaluate the ability of a space borne observer to gather information about ground troops, equipment and facilities, and also participated in extensive studies evaluating medical countermeasures to long duration space flight. The crew aboard the Orbiter Atlantis included the pilot Tom Henricks; three mission specialists, Story Musgrave, Jim Voss, and Mario Runco Jr.; and Army payload specialist Tom Hennen. The mission concluded on December 1, 1991, with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Mission duration was 166 hours, 50 minutes, 42 seconds.[10]
NASA administration
Gregory served at NASA Headquarters as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (1992–2001), and was Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight (2001–2002). On August 12, 2002, Mr. Gregory was sworn in as NASA Deputy Administrator.[11] In that role, he was responsible to the Administrator for providing overall leadership, planning, and policy direction for the Agency. The Deputy Administrator performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated by the Administrator, assists the Administrator in making final Agency decisions, and acts for the Administrator in his or her absence by performing all necessary functions to govern NASA operations and exercise the powers vested in the Agency by law. The Deputy Administrator articulates the Agency's vision and represents NASA to the Executive Office of the President, Congress, heads of Federal and other appropriate Government agencies, international organizations, and external organizations and communities.[12] From the departure of Sean O'Keefe on February 20, 2005, to the swearing in of Michael D. Griffin on April 14, 2005, he was the NASA Acting Administrator. He returned to the post of Deputy Administrator and on September 9, 2005, submitted his resignation. He was replaced on November 29, 2005, by Shana Dale.[11][13]
Personal life
Gregory was married to the former Barbara Archer of Washington, D.C., until her death in 2008. They had two grown children. Frederick, D. Jr., a Civil Servant working in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (DOD), and a graduate of
Education
- 1958: Graduated from Anacostia High School, Washington, D.C.[5]
- 1964: Received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy[5]
- 1977: Received a master's degree in information systems from George Washington University[5]
Organizations
Mr. Gregory is a member of the following organizations:[14]
- Order of Daedalians
- The Air Force Association
- The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc
- United States Air Force Academy Endowment board member
- United States Air Force Association of Graduates board member
- Omega Psi Phi fraternity
- Sigma Pi Phi fraternity
- Society of Experimental Test Pilots
- American Helicopter Society
- National Aviation Hall of Fame board member
- National Museum of the Air Force trustee
- Chairman of the NASA Alumni League
- National Technical Association
- Association of Space Explorers officer
- Astronaut Scholarship Foundation board member
Special honors
Mr. Gregory holds the following honors and awards:[15]
- Air Force Legion of Merit
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Distinguished Flying Cross – 3
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal - 16
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal - 2
- NASA Spaceflight Medal – 3
- NASA Outstanding Leadership Award - 2
- National Intelligence Medal
- Astronaut Hall of Fame
- National Society of Black Engineers Distinguished Scientist Award[6]
- Designated an "Ira Eaker Fellow" by the Air Force Association
- Presidential Rank Award
- United States Air Force Academy Distinguished Graduate[16]
- The George Washington University Distinguished Graduate
- Anacostia High School Hall of Fame
- Honorary Doctorates from: The University of the District of Columbia, Southwestern University, The College of Aeronautics
- The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science President's Medal
- The Consolidated Education and Training Facility at the United States Air Force Academy was renamed “Gregory Hall” in September 2021 in honor of Frederick Gregory
See also
References
- ^ "Francis A. Gregory Library History". DC Public Library. July 22, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "Nora Drew Gregory 2011 obituary". July 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Gubert, Betty Kaplan, Miriam Sawyer, and Caroline M. Fannin. Distinguished African Americans in aviation and space science. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. p143
- ^ NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project, April 29, 2004. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biographical Data:Frederick D. Gregory (Colonel, USAF, Ret.) NASA Astronaut (Former)" (PDF). NASA. May 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Frederick D. Gregory". GW Alumni Association. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ "STS-51B". Spacefacts. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ "Diversity in Space". NASA. Archived from the original on March 6, 2005.
- ^ "STS-33". Spacefacts. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ "STS-44". Spacefacts. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ a b "Frederick D. Gregory". NASA. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ Appearances on C-SPAN
- ^ "Griffin's Statement on NASA Deputy Administrator Nominee Shana Dale". NASA. September 13, 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ a b "Gregory, Frederick Drew". Astronautix.com. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ "NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick D. Gregory". NASA. June 2007.
- ^ "Air Force Academy will rename building for '64 grad, NASA astronaut retired Col. Frederick Gregory". U.S. Air Force Academy. April 16, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2022.