Chronology
Nov. 12, 1937 - Born in Fayette, Mississippi
June 13, 1959 - Graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering), commissioned Ensign in U.S. Navy
1960 - After flight school became Naval Aviator –assigned to Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) aboard USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise, made over 300 Carrier landings
1963 - 1965 - Student and instructor at USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards AFB
Nov. 12, 1965 - One of first military astronauts selected for USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program
1969 - Transferred to NASA as astronaut after MOL cancelled
1977 - Pilot for Space Shuttle Enterprise approach and landing tests (ALT)
Nov. 12-14, 1981 - Pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-2)
Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 1983 - Commander of Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-8)
1983 - 1986 - Commander of Naval Space Command
Jan. 28, 1986 - Challenger accident
Feb. 20, 1986 - Returned to NASA as Associate Administrator for Space Flight, led Challenger accident investigation and return to flight
Sept. 29, 1988 - Space Shuttle Discovery returns to flight (STS-26)
July 1, 1989 - Sworn in as Administrator of NASA
Feb. 1992 - Announced resignation as Administrator of NASA effective April 1, 1992
1992 - 1997 - Vice President of Georgia Institute of Technology and Director of Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
1997 - 2005 - Director of National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado
Jan. 2005 - Retired