Pioneer Astronaut. He was a career US Navy aviator officer who was one of the first NASA test pilots for the X-15 rocket space program. After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1944, he served in the Pacific for the remainder of World War II. In 1947, he became a Naval Aviator, seeing service in the Korean War and the 1950s, flew test flights and was a aeronautics engineer for astronautic experiments. He joined the US Air Force NASA X-15 rocket program in 1958 and made five high level atmosphere flights before leaving the project in 1962, to serve as Deputy Chief of Naval Material. He later served in Vietnam and was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare and Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. He retired from active duty in May 1980, with the rank of Vice Admiral.
Pioneer Astronaut. He was a career US Navy aviator officer who was one of the first NASA test pilots for the X-15 rocket space program. After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1944, he served in the Pacific for the remainder of World War II. In 1947, he became a Naval Aviator, seeing service in the Korean War and the 1950s, flew test flights and was a aeronautics engineer for astronautic experiments. He joined the US Air Force NASA X-15 rocket program in 1958 and made five high level atmosphere flights before leaving the project in 1962, to serve as Deputy Chief of Naval Material. He later served in Vietnam and was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare and Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. He retired from active duty in May 1980, with the rank of Vice Admiral.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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