Bridges, Jr., Roy

Author Roy Bridges, Jr.
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1943
Birth City
Atlanta
Birth State
GA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Author's Website
https://heartallybooks.com/an-improbable-astronaut/
Occupation(s)
Retired
Biography
  • Graduated from high school in Gainesville, GA. 
  • Graduated from the USAFA in 1965 and Purdue University in 1966. 
  • Served 31 years in the USAF and retired as a Major General to Colorado Springs 1996. 
  • While in the AF served as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. 
  • As an astronaut, piloted the space shuttle Challenger on STS-51F, Spacelab 2 in 1985. 
  • After AF retirement, served as Center Director of both NASA Kennedy Space Center (1997-2003) and Langley Research Center (2003-2005). 
  • Following NASA retirement served as business unit director for Northrop Grumman 13 years retiring in 2019. 
  • I have lived in Monument or Colorado Springs since 2013.
Awards/Honors
Astronaut Hall of Fame
NASA Certificate of Commendation
American Astronautical Society 1985 Flight Achievement Award
NASA Space Flight Medal
Purdue University Astronaut Alumnus Award
Purdue University Distinguished Alumnus Award
GA Aviation Hall of Fame
National Space Club of Florida Debus Award
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
Meritorious Presidential Rank Award (Federal Senior Executive Service)
Honorary PhD of Engineering from Purdue University
Honorary PhD of Science, FIT
Many USAF awards and decorations including Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2); Distinguished Flying Cross (3), and Air Medal (15)
Education/Training
BS Engineering Science, USAFA (Distinguished Graduate); MS Astronautics, Purdue University; USAF Pilot Training (Distinguished Graduate); USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School (Top Graduate); Air Command and Staff College (Distinguished Graduate); NASA Astronaut Candidate Training; University of New Hampshire Executive Development Program; Learning as Leadership 4 Mastery Program
Local Authors Genres
Biography/Memoir
Search PPLD's catalog for works by Roy Bridges, Jr.
Published Works
An Improbable Astronaut: How a Georgia Farmboy Wound Up Flying the Space Shuttle
Published Works Book Jackets
Book cover of An Improbable Astronaut by Roy Bridge, Jr.
Interviews
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Videos of Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction C…
Organizations
* Board of Directors, Association of Space Explorers
* Fellow of Society of Experimental Test Pilots
* Associate Fellow of AIAA
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Space Exploration; Space Shuttle Pilot's Experience and Mission Photos