NASA astronaut to speak at Heritage Symposium and present flag from space

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A NASA astronaut will present the Air Force Institute of Technology with an American flag that flew in space aboard the Discovery STS-128 space shuttle at the second Heritage Symposium on Sept. 21 and 22.

NASA Astronaut Dr. Kevin A. Ford, a retired Air Force colonel, will also give a presentation on piloting the space shuttle and its mission. The flag is his acknowledgment of the many astronauts that have graduated from AFIT.

Having received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1982, Dr. Ford was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program where he received Distinguished Graduate of Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1984. Upon completion of a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy State University in 1989 and Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida in 1994, Dr. Ford received his PhD in Astronautical Engineering from AFIT in 1997.

Dr. Ford trained in the F-15 Eagle and was assigned to the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron in Germany from 1984-1987, then to the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Iceland until 1989. After a year, as a student, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dr. Ford flew flight test missions in the F-16 Fighting Falcon at Eglin AFB, Florida from 1991-1994. Other test experience included multiple F-16 flutter missions, development of the ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System, multiple safe separation, ballistic and fuse tests, and air-to-air missile development testing. Upon his graduation from AFIT, he served as the Director of Plans and Programs, taught academics, and instructed students on flight test techniques in the F-15, F-16, and gliders at the Air Force Test Pilot School.

He has 4300 flying hours and holds FAA commercial certificates for airplanes, helicopters, and gliders; he is also a certified flight instructor in airplanes and gliders. Dr. Ford retired from active duty military service in June 2008.

In July 2000, Dr. Ford was selected by NASA as a pilot. After completing two years of training, he was assigned to the Astronauts Office Advanced Vehicles Branch and the Space Shuttle Branch. He served as Director of operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 2004, then from January 2005 through July 2008, he served as a Space Shuttle and International Space Station CAPCOM in the Mission Control Center where he worked the STS-115, -116, -117, -120, -122, and STS-123 Shuttle missions, as well as, ISS Expedition Stage operations.

Dr. Ford served as pilot for Space Shuttle Mission Discovery STS-128 to the International Space Station in 2009. Discovery carried "Leonardo", a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module which contained science and storage racks to the ISS, exchanged a new Ammonia tank for a depleted one, returned the ISS EuTEF and MISSE experiments, and exchanged ISS Expedition crew members. STS-128 and her crew completed 217 Earth orbits in 13 days, 21 hours.

In addition to Dr. Ford, other noted speakers include Lt. Gen. Allen Peck (Commander, Air University), Maj. Gen. David W. Eidsaune (Director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Analyses, Air Force Material Command, Headquarters), Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (retired USAF colonel, First African-American in space), and Joseph E. Zeis (Dayton Development Coalition).

The second AFIT Heritage Symposium is open to the general public, however registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.afit.edu/symposium.