[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24531-24532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       DR. GUION S. BLUFORD, JR.

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise to welcome to the Senate Dr. Guy 
Bluford and his wife Linda who are here today. This year marks the 20th 
anniversary of Dr. Bluford's first flight into space, the first African 
American in space. He is a native Philadelphian, of which I am very 
proud. I am equally as proud that he is also a fellow Penn State 
graduate.
  He has distinguished this country in his 29 years of service in the 
U.S. Air Force. I will enter into the Record his long list of 
accomplishments in the Air Force, and I ask unanimous consent to have 
this printed following my remarks.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit No. 1.)
  Mr. SANTORUM. He has won numerous medals and commendations. His first 
flight in space was on August 30, 1983. He became the first African 
American to fly in space. Subsequent to that, he went on three missions 
in space in the shuttle and logged over 688 hours in space. In 1997, he 
was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame. Since his 
retirement, he has continued to excel in private enterprise since 1997 
and is now president of the Aerospace Technology Group.
  As I mentioned, one of his greatest accomplishments is graduating 
from Penn State University, my alma mater. He has an aerospace 
engineering degree from Penn State. He has a master's degree of 
science, Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering from the Air Force 
Institute of Technology, and an MBA degree from the University of 
Houston. His education is phenomenal. His accomplishments in the 
military and space and now in the private sector are something of which 
to take note.
  We recognize today his great contribution to this country. The 
example he sets is as a terrific role model for young people of all 
ethnic and racial backgrounds. He is a man who has accomplished a 
tremendous amount in his life and obviously has a lot more to 
contribute. He and his wife Linda are here today, and we will have a 
reception for them starting at 10 a.m. in one of the reception rooms 
behind me. I invite my colleagues to stop by and meet Dr. Bluford and 
his wife Linda.
  I thank him for his tremendous service. I know my colleagues join me 
in recognizing his great accomplishments and great service to this 
country.

                             Exhibit No. 1

                      Guion S. Bluford, Jr. Ph.D.

       Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr., President, The Aerospace 
     Technology Group (ATG), an aerospace technology and business 
     consulting organization specializing in aviation and space 
     related technology development, analysis, and marketing 
     related activities. Prior to joining ATG, Dr. Bluford was 
     Vice President of Microgravity R&D and Operations for the 
     Northrop Grumman Corporation and was responsible for all 
     corporate microgravity research and technical development 
     activities in support of NASA's Human Exploration and 
     Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise. He also served as the 
     Program Manager of the NASA Glenn Research Center's 
     Microgravity Research, Development, and Operations Contract 
     (MRDOC). Headquartered in Cleveland Ohio, Dr. Bluford was 
     responsible for the design, development, integration, and 
     operational support of the NASA Fluids and Combustion 
     Facility and associated space flight experiment hardware for 
     the International Space Station. Prior to joining Northrop 
     Grumman, he was Vice President of the Aerospace Sector of 
     Federal Data Corporation (FDC) and was responsible for all 
     NASA business. He has also been the Vice President of the 
     Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc and Program Manager 
     of the NASA Lewis Research Center's Scientific Engineering, 
     Technical and Administrative Related Services (SETAR) 
     contract.
       Prior to his service with Northrop Grumman, FDC, and NYMA, 
     Inc., Dr. Bluford was a NASA mission specialist and payload 
     commander astronaut on four Space Shuttle missions. He was 
     selected in the first class of

[[Page 24532]]

     space shuttle astronauts in 1978 and was the first African 
     American to fly in space in 1983 aboard Space Shuttle 
     Challenger. In addition, he flew on a Spacelab flight as 
     payload commander in 1985, a Department of Defense Strategic 
     Defense Initiative Office flight in 1991, and a classified 
     Department of Defense flight in 1992. He has logged over 688 
     hours in space.
       Dr. Bluford served 29 years in the United States Air Force 
     as an Air Force tactical fighter pilot in Vietnam, instructor 
     pilot, staff development engineer, Branch Chief of the 
     Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch of the Air Force Flight 
     Dynamics Laboratory and NASA Astronaut. He has over 5200 
     hours of jet flight time in ten different aircraft.
       Dr. Bluford received a Bachelor of Science degree in 
     Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University and Masters 
     of Science and Ph.D degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the 
     Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business 
     Administration degree from the University of Houston, Clear 
     Lake, Texas.
       Dr. Bluford serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. 
     Space Foundation, ENSCO Inc, and the Board of Trustees of The 
     Aerospace Corporation. He has been a member of the National 
     Research Council's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board 
     (ASEB) and the Board of Directors of the American Institute 
     of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He is currently 
     serving on the Board of Directors of the NASA Alumni League, 
     Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, the Great 
     Lakes Science Center, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame 
     Foundation.
       He has been awarded the Department of Defense's Superior 
     Service and three Meritorious Service Medals; the Air Force's 
     Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service, Commendation, and ten 
     Air Medals; NASA's Distinguished Service, Exceptional Service 
     and four Space Flight Medals: the State of Pennsylvania's 
     Distinguished Service Medal and thirteen honorary doctorate 
     degrees. An AIAA Fellow, he was inducted into the 
     International Space Hall of Fame in 1997.

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