STS-44 Commander Gregory wears a USAF Academy cap on the Atlantis middeck. Image: NASA.
First African-American Space Shuttle Commander
STS-44 Commander Gregory wears a USAF Academy cap on the Atlantis middeck. Image: NASA.
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A veteran of three shuttle missions, Frederick D. Gregory became the first African-American shuttle commander when he flew on STS-33 (Discovery) in 1989. Gregory was commander of STS-44 (Atlantis) in 1991. His first mission was as pilot of STS-51B (Challenger) in 1985. Gregory was born January 7, 1941, in Washington, DC. |
He graduated from the US Air Force Academy with a science degree and went on to earn an M.S. in information systems from George Washington University. Currently, Gregory is the associate administrator of Safety & Mission Assurance at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. |