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Roy D. Bridges Jr.

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American astronaut and USAF general (born 1943)
Roy Bridges
Director of the Langley Research Center
In office
June 13, 2003 – October 3, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDelma Freeman (Acting)
Succeeded byLesa Roe
Personal details
BornRoy Dubard Bridges Jr.
(1943-07-19) July 19, 1943 (age 81)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Purdue University (MS)
Space career
NASA astronaut
RankMajor General, USAF
Time in space7d 22h 45m
SelectionNASA Group 9 (1980)
MissionsSTS-51-F
STS-61-F (never flew)
Mission insignia

Roy Dubard Bridges Jr. (born July 19, 1943) is an American pilot, engineer, retired United States Air Force officer, test pilot, former NASA astronaut and the former director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center and Langley Research Center. As a command pilot, he has over 4,460 flying hours, and is a decorated veteran of 262 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He retired as a U.S. Air Force major general, last serving as the Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from June 1993 until his retirement. He is married with two adult children.

Early life and education

Born July 19, 1943, in Atlanta, Bridges grew up in Gainesville, Georgia, and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1961. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved its second-highest rank, Life Scout. He is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering science in 1965. He received a Master of Science degree in Astronautics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1966.

NASA career

Bridges served as a NASA astronaut, piloting the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-F (July 29 to August 6, 1985).

Bridges became the Director of NASA's Langley Research Center in 2003, after serving as Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC). He retired from Langley and from NASA at the end of 2005. As the senior management official of the laboratory employing approximately 2,100 NASA civil service and 1,800 contractor personnel, Bridges was responsible for the center's aeronautical and space research programs, as well as facilities, personnel, and administration. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing facilities and activities related to the processing and launch of the Space Shuttle, processing and integration of Shuttle payloads and those aboard Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs), as well as final tests and preparation of elements delivered to the International Space Station via Shuttle. He was also responsible for managing the acquisition and launch of all NASA ELV missions.

As Director of the Kennedy Space Center for over six years, Bridges was responsible for managing NASA's only site for processing and launch of the Space Shuttle vehicle; processing the payloads flown on both the Shuttle and expendable launch vehicles; and overseeing expendable vehicle launches carrying NASA payloads. He managed a team of about 2,000 NASA civil servants and about 14,000 contractors.

Military career

Bridges, a decorated veteran of 262 combat missions during Vietnam War, is a retired U.S. Air Force major general who served as the director of requirements, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from June 1993 until his retirement July 1, 1996. In that position he served as the Command focal point for product management policy, processes and resources.

Prior to his assignment at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Bridges was the commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. He has served in several key leadership positions including deputy chief of staff, test and resources, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; commander, Eastern Space and Missile Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; commander, 6510th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base, California.

In the course of his career he has completed the following assignments:

Assignments

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
Major general January 1, 1993
Brigadier general July 1, 1990
Colonel December 1, 1983
Lieutenant colonel August 10, 1979
Major November 19, 1973
Captain June 13, 1968
First lieutenant December 9, 1966
Second lieutenant June 9, 1965

Awards and decorations

USAF Master Astronaut badge
United States Air Force Parachutist badge
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster US Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 OLC
Bronze oak leaf clusterWidth-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit ribbon with 1 OLC
Bronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon with 2 OLC
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service ribbon
Silver oak leaf clusterSilver oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster Air Medal with 14 OLC
Air Force Commendation ribbon
NASA Outstanding Leadership ribbon
Space Flight ribbon
AF Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Bronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster Outstanding Unit ribbon with 2 OLC
Bronze oak leaf cluster Organizational Excellence ribbon with 1 OLC
Bronze starWidth=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes National Defense Service Medal with 1 OLC
Bronze starBronze starBronze star Vietnam Service ribbon with 3 Service Stars
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service ribbon
Silver oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster Air Force Longevity Service ribbon with 6 OLC
USAF Marksmanship ribbon
Air Force Training ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon

He is the recipient of several awards and honors including recognition as a distinguished graduate of Air Force Pilot Training and a top graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award, and a NASA Certificate of Commendation. He is a member of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Bridges is married to the former Benita Louise Allbaugh of Tucson, Arizona. They have two adult children.

Bridges is an executive with Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

References

  1. ^ "Major General Roy D. Bridges, Jr". AF.mil. US Air Force. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. "Major General Roy D. Bridges Jr". Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2018.

External links

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NASA Astronaut Group 9, "19+80", 1980
NASA Astronaut Group 8 ← NASA Astronaut Group 9 → NASA Astronaut Group 10
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