Astronaut, Test Pilot, Navy Fighter Pilot
ASTRONAUT
SPACE SHUTTLE PILOT- FIGHTER PILOT - NAVY TEST PILOT
Born in 1943 in the green hills of West Virginia, a young Jon McBride dreamed
of flying to the stars. In the mid-sixties, McBride joined the US Navy where he
flew over 60 combat missions during Vietnam in the F-4
Phantom. He attended the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force
Base and was a graduate of the forerunner to the "Top Gun" flight school at
Miramar, California. McBride did undergraduate work at West Virginia University
and received his degree in
Aeronautical Engineering from the US Naval
Postgraduate School. He also did graduate work at Pepperdine University. McBride
has been awarded many decorations and honors, among them the Defense Superior
Service Medal, 3 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, the
Vietnamese Service Medal and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
In 1978, McBride was selected as an astronaut candidate by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and became an astronaut in August 1979. Recognized as one of the most skilled pilots in the country, McBride's assignments have included chase pilot for the nation's first shuttle flight, Deputy Director of NASA's aircraft operations, and capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for three separate space shuttle missions. McBride was also instrumental in development and verification of all shuttle software and shuttle orbital rendezvous procedures.
McBride was pilot of the Challenger (mission 41-G) which launched from the Kennedy Space Center on October 5, 1984 for an 8-day flight. McBride's mission included the first crew of seven and included two women mission specialists.
In January of 1986, the world watched as seven men and women
lost their lives in the "Challenger' accident. For Captain McBride, the loss of
his friends was especially poignant as he was slated to command the next
scheduled shuttle flight (ASTRO-1). For the next two years, McBride served as
Assistant Administrator of NASA with primary responsibility for maintaining
NASA's relationship with Congress- a job of particular importance given the
attention focused upon the space agency following the "Challenger" accident.
Shortly before his retirement from NASA to pursue a business career, McBride
again was named commander of a shuttle mission (STS 35) which was scheduled for
launch in 1990.
In May 1989, Captain McBride retired from NASA and
the Navy and returned to his native West Virginia in order to pursue a business
career. CAPT. Jon A. McBride, U.S.N. / NASA (Ret.) is currently President & Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Training Systems International, Inc. (ATSI). ATSI provides customized, all-inclusive fighter combat and maintenance training programs to the armed forces of the United States and its allies worldwide.
