America’s First African-American Astronaut to speak at Heritage Symposium

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Institute of Technology will host its annual Heritage Symposium on Sept. 21 and 22. Among the prominent and successful AFIT alumni set as key note speakers is former NASA astronaut and America's first African-American to fly in space, Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr.

Dr. Bluford, a retired Air Force colonel, also has the distinction of having been a double AFIT degree recipient, receiving a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering (with distinction) in 1974, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in laser physics in 1978.

His extraordinary Air Force and NASA careers began with graduation from Penn State University in 1964 as a distinguished AFROTC graduate. He attended Air Force pilot training at Williams AFB, Ariz., and received his pilot wings in Jan. 1966.

Dr. Bluford then attended F-4C combat crew training and was assigned to the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam where he flew 144 combat missions, 65 of which were over North Vietnam. In 1967 he was assigned to the 3630th Flying Training Wing, and in 1971 attended Squadron Officers School and returned as an executive support officer to the Deputy Commander of Operations and as School Secretary for the Wing. He has logged over 5,200 hours jet flight time in the T-33, T-37, F-4C, F-15, U-2/TR-1, and F-5A/B including 1,300 hours as an T-38 instructor pilot.

Dr. Bluford became a NASA astronaut in 1979 where he worked with Space Station operations, the Remote Manipulator System, Spacelab systems and experiments, Space Shuttle systems, the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, and the Flight Systems Laboratory.

During his 15 years in the astronaut program, he flew on four space shuttle missions and logged 688 hours in space. Dr. Bluford was a mission specialist on space shuttle flights: STS-8, STS 61-A, STS-39, and STS-53. He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1997 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010.

Dr. Bluford is founder and president of the Aerospace Technology Group in Cleveland, Ohio. ATG is an aerospace technology and business consulting organization specializing in aviation and space related technology and development, analysis, and marketing related activities.

Dr. Bluford will speak on his lifetime of experiences and perspectives linking how his AFIT education affected his career and why an AFIT education is more relevant than ever to the Air Force's current and future combat power.

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

In addition to Dr. Bluford, other notable alum speakers include Lt. Gen. Allen Peck (commander, Air University), Maj. Gen. David W. Eidsaune (director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Analyses, Air Force Materiel Command, Headquarters), Dr. Kevin A. Ford (NASA astronaut), and Joseph E. Zeis (Dayton Development Coalition).