Kevin P. Chilton
Kevin Chilton | |
|---|---|
NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | General, USAF |
Time in space | 29d 8h 22m |
| Selection | NASA Group 12 (1987) |
| Missions | STS-49 STS-59 STS-76 |
Mission insignia |    |
| Retirement | February 1, 2011 |
Kevin Patrick "Chilli" Chilton (born November 3, 1954) is an American
mechanical engineer and retired United States Air Force four-star general, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. His last assignment was as commander of U.S. Strategic Command from October 3, 2007, to January 28, 2011. Prior to his appointment to general officer ranks, Chilton spent 11 years of his military career as a NASA astronaut.[1] He retired from the Air Force on February 1, 2011, after having achieved the highest rank of any military astronaut. On January 30, 2012, General Chilton was named to the board of directors of Orbital Sciences Corporation
.
Early life
Born November 3, 1954, in
.Early Air Force career
Chilton received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976. After receiving his
pilot and instructor pilot in the RF-4C in Korea, Japan and the Philippines
.
In 1981, he converted to the
67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, as a squadron pilot. In 1982, Chilton attended the USAF Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and finished as the number one graduate for the year, receiving the Secretary of the Air Force
Leadership Award.
Subsequently, assigned to the
Holloman AFB, New Mexico, Chilton served as an F-15 squadron weapons officer, instructor pilot, and flight commander until 1984 when selected for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He graduated number one in his class to win the Liethen-Tittle Award, as the outstanding test pilot
at the school.
Chilton was assigned to
3247th Test Squadron
, Chilton served as squadron safety officer, as chief of test and evaluation, and as squadron operations officer.
During his time at the Air Force, Chilton also met his future wife, Cathy Chilton, who later became an Air Force Major General.[2] Together, they had four children.[2]
NASA career
In August 1987 Chilton was assigned to NASA and became an astronaut in August 1988, qualifying for assignment as a pilot on Space Shuttle flight crews.
Chilton held a variety of technical assignments. He served in the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office in support of the Infrared Background Signature Survey (IBSS) satellite, and the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) programs. He was the Astronaut Office
CAPCOM
) for numerous Shuttle flights.
Chilton also served as Deputy Program Manager for the early
space flights
, Chilton logged more than 704 hours in space.
An accomplished guitarist, Chilton spent a portion of his spare time hammering out riffs on a Fender Stratocaster while jamming with the all astronaut band, "Max Q".
Spaceflight experience
STS-49
STS-49, which lasted from May 7–16, 1992, was the maiden voyage of Space Shuttle Endeavour. During the mission, the crew conducted the initial test flight of Endeavour, performed a record four EVA’s (spacewalks) to retrieve, repair and deploy the International Telecommunications Satellite (INTELSAT), and to demonstrate and evaluate numerous EVA tasks to be used for the assembly of Space Station Freedom. Additionally, a variety of medical, scientific and operational tests were conducted throughout the mission. STS-49 logged 213 hours in space and 141 Earth orbits prior to landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where the crew conducted the first test of the Endeavour’s drag chute.[3]
STS-59
Earth's surface and atmosphere. The imaging radars operated in three frequencies and four polarizations. This multispectral capability of the radars provided information about the Earth's surface over a wide range of scales not discernible with previous single-frequency experiments. The carbon monoxide sensor (MAPS) used gas filter radiometry to measure the global distribution of CO in the troposphere. Real-time crew observations of surface phenomena and climatic conditions augmented with over 14,000 photographs aided investigators in interpretation and calibration of the data. The mission concluded with a landing at Edwards AFB after orbiting the Earth 183 times in 269 hours.[4]
STS-76
Chilton commanded
Spacehab module carried in the Shuttle payload bay was utilized extensively for transfer and return stowage of logistics and science and also carried Biorack, a small multipurpose laboratory used during this mission for research of plant and animal cellular function. This mission was also the first flight of Kidsat, an electronic camera controlled by classroom students via a Ku-band link between JSC Mission Control and the Shuttle, which used digitized photography from the Shuttle for science and education. Following 145 orbits of the Earth, Atlantis landed with a crew of five at Edwards Air Force Base in California on March 31, 1996, 221 hours after liftoff.[5]
Air Force career resumed
Chilton left NASA in 1998 to become deputy director of political military affairs for
three stars
.
As commander of Air Force Space Command, Chilton oversees the whole space operations within the United States Air Force jurisdiction including the Satellites and Ballistic Missile.[1][6] With his background as astronaut, Chilton also emphasized the importance roles of Space operations especially entering the new communication technologies systems in-which satellite communication played major role in a modern communication technologies that needed a robust satellite communication systems.[7][8] Chilton also emphasized the importance role of satellites which will act as eyes for troops, especially those deployed abroad.[7] However Chilton did not remain long as commander of Air Force Space Command, following Chilton's nomination as commander of United States Strategic Command in October 2007.[9]
Commander of United States Strategic Command
In October 2007, following the appointment of Commander of
Air Force Space Command and also succeeding Chilton in the position.[11] Following his ended assignment as commander of Strategic Command, Chilton officially retired from the United States Air Force in January 2011 after 34 years of dedicated service and leadership within the United States Air Force.[11]
Education
- 1976 Distinguished graduate, engineering sciences, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 1977 Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, Columbia University, New York City, New York
- 1982 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- 1984 Distinguished graduate, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California
- 1985 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
- 2001 Air War College, by correspondence
Military assignments
- May 1977 – May 1978, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
- May 1978 – August 1978, student, RF-4C Replacement Training Unit, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
- August 1978 – November 1980, RF-4C pilot and instructor pilot, 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
- November 1980 – August 1982, F-15C pilot, 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
- August 1982 – October 1982, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- October 1982 – December 1983, F-15A pilot, instructor pilot and flight commander, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
- January 1984 – December 1984, student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California
- January 1985 – August 1987, test pilot and operations officer, 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
- August 1987 – August 1988, astronaut candidate, Houston, Texas
- August 1988 – May 1996, astronaut, NASA, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- May 1996 – August 1998, deputy program manager of operations, International Space Station Program, NASA, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- August 1998 – May 1999, deputy director of operations, Headquarters Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- May 1999 – September 2000, commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California
- October 2000 – April 2002, director of politico-military affairs, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- April 2002 – August 2004, director of programs, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- August 2004 – August 2005, acting assistant vice chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- August 2005 – June 2006, commander of 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and joint functional component commander for space and global strike, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
- June 2006 – September 2007, commander of Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- October 2007 – January 2011, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Summary of joint assignments
- October 2000 – April 2002, director of politico-military affairs, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a Brigadier General and Major General
- October 2007 – January 2011, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, as a General
Flight information
- Rating: Command astronaut pilot
- Flight hours: More than 5,000
- Aircraft flown: F-4C/D/E, F-15A/B/C/D, OV-104A and OV-105A (space shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour), RF-4C, T-38, U-2 and VC-11, B-52H
Organizations
Chilton is a member of the Order of Daedalians, USAF Academy Association of Graduates, and American Legion.
Awards and decorations
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Other achievements
- National Space Trophy
- NASA "Top Fox" Flight Safety Award
- Guggenheim Fellow
- Commander's Trophy, Undergraduate Pilot Training
- 1982 Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award
- 1984 Liethen-Tittle Award for top graduate, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
- 2012 Induction into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5th[16] in a ceremony that took place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Effective dates of promotion
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
 |
General | June 26, 2006 |
 |
Lieutenant general | August 9, 2005 |
 |
Major general | April 1, 2002 |
 |
Brigadier general | May 1, 1999 |
 |
Colonel | January 1, 1993 |
 |
Lieutenant colonel | June 2, 1989 |
 |
Major | May 2, 1985 |
 |
Captain | June 2, 1980 |
 |
First lieutenant |
June 2, 1978 |
 |
Second lieutenant | June 2, 1976 |
Gallery
-
Commander of The Strategic Command General Kevin P. Chilton and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, October 17, 2007. -
General Chilton with Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz. -
Kevin P. Chilton with astronauts Richard A. Searfoss and astronauts Michael R. Clifford on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis on March 28, 1996. -
Chilton (front, middle) with the others Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-76 mission crew.
See also
References
- ^ (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b "DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE GENERAL KEVIN P. CHILTON | CLASS OF 1976" (PDF). aog-websites.s3.amazonaws.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ Ryba, Jeanne (2 April 2010). "STS-49". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Ryba, Jeanne (23 November 2007). "STS-59". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Ryba, Jeanne (23 November 2007). "STS-76". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b Air Force news, "Former astronaut takes command of Air Force Space Command"
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b "B61 REPLACEMENT AND VACUUM TUBES". www.armscontrolwonk.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c "KEVIN P. CHILTON". www.af.mil. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b c "Gen Kevin P. Chilton assumes command of USSTRATCOM". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b c d "Langevin and Turner Thank General Kevin P. Chilton for his Lifetime of Public Service and". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b "In today's space race, watch out for China – CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b c GourleyCo-Founder, Connect HereBob; CTO, CTO at OODABob Gourley is the; diligence, Co-Founder of the due; LLC, cybersecurity consultancy OODA; CTOvision.com, which publishes; analyst, OODAloop com Bob's background is as an all source intelligence; CTO, an enterprise (2010-09-08). "JTF-CND to JTF-CNO to JTF-GNO to Cybercom". CTOvision.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ Collect Space
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.- This article incorporates public domain material from General Kevin P. Chilton biography. United States Air Force.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kevin P. Chilton.
- U.S. Strategic Command Official Site
- "Biographical Data: KEVIN P. CHILTON (GENERAL, USAF) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" (PDF). NASA. March 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- Official U.S. Strategic Command biography of Kevin P. Chilton
- Astronautix biography of Kevin P. Chilton
- Spacefacts biography of Kevin P. Chilton
- Chilton at Spaceacts Archived 2015-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
- 2011 National Space Trophy Recipient
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