Meet Col. Frederick D. Gregory--trailblazer\, test pilot\, a
nd space explorer. As a NASA astronaut and the first African American to p
ilot and command a Space Shuttle\, Col. Gregory helped shape the future of
space travel. Over the course of three missions\, he brought bold thinkin
g\, technical skill\, and calm leadership to one of the most challenging r
oles on Earth--or beyond it.
But his legacy didn&rsquo\;t stop whe n he landed. As a senior NASA leader\, including service as Deputy Adminis trator\, Col. Gregory helped guide the direction of U.S. space exploration \, inspiring generations of explorers and engineers.
\nThis is more than a talk--it&rsquo\;s a chance to hear firsthand from someone who&rsquo \;s pushed the boundaries of possibility. Whether you're passionate about space\, aviation\, science or leadership\, Col. Gregory&rsquo\;s story wil l leave you thinking bigger about your own future.
\nCome wi th questions. Leave with purpose.
\n*******
\nFrederick Drew Gregory\, USAF (Ret.) bio:
\nFrederi ck Drew Gregory\, Colonel\, USAF (Ret.) is a former test pilot\, NASA astr onaut\, and NASA Deputy Administrator. He was born and raised in Washingto n D.C.\, graduating from Anacostia High School. He attended the United Sta tes Air Force Academy (nominated by New York Congressman\, the Reverend Ad am Clayton Powell) where he received his undergraduate degree in Military Engineering. He earned his wings after helicopter school\, flew in Vietnam \, transitioned to fighter aircraft\, attended the Navy Test Pilot School\ , and then conducted testing as an engineering test pilot for both the Air Force and NASA. He received a master's degree from The George Washington University in Information Systems.
\nDuring his time in the Air Forc e\, Gregory logged approximately 7\,000 hours in more than 50 types of air craft as a helicopter\, fighter and test pilot. He flew 550 combat rescue missions in Vietnam.
\nIn 1978\, Gregory applied for and was chosen as a member of the first class of Space Shuttle astronauts.
\nGregor y became the first American with an African lineage to pilot a space craft \, the orbiter Challenger on mission STS-51B. This flight was the second f light for the laboratory developed by the European Space Agency for scient ific experiments on the space shuttle. The crew also deployed the Northern Utah Satellite before landing at Edwards Air Force Base. He was then the first person ever of African lineage to command any space mission with the launch of STS-33 in 1989 on the orbiter Discovery\, which carried a class ified payload. He then commanded STS-44 on Atlantis which in addition to d eploying a Department of Defense satellite\, DPS 15\, also conducted exten sive studies to evaluate medical countermeasures to long duration space fl ight.
\nAfter he left the Astronaut Office\, he assumed the roles of Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance and as the Assoc iate Administrator for Space Flight before becoming the NASA Deputy Admini strator. As the leader of the agency&rsquo\;s human space flight program a nd as the Deputy Administrator\, one of his biggest goals was to have huma ns leave low Earth orbit on a journey in which Mars was the first step.
\nMarried to the former Barbara Archer of Washington\, D.C. until her death in 2008. They had two children. Frederick\, D.\, Jr.\, a former Civi l Servant working in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (DOD) and the US Army\, and a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Flo rida. Heather Lynn is a social worker and graduate of Sweet Briar College and the University of Maryland and works for the state of North Carolina. Fred is now married to the former Annette Becke of Washington\, D.C. and t ogether they have three children\, seven grandkids and five great grandkid s. The two oldest grandchildren also graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and a younger grandson was Army\, Special Operations. Recrea tional interests include reading\, boating\, diving\, biking\, traveling a nd relaxing on a beach.
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