Colonel Benjamin Alvin Drew - Helicopter Pilot and Astronaut
|
|
|
|
Colonel Benjamin Alvin Drew (b.
1962) is a United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. He
flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-118 to the International Space
Station.[1]
Personal
Drew was born in 1962 in
Washington, DC. After attending St. Anthony's School for his
elementary education, he graduated from Gonzaga College High School
in Washington, DC, and went on to earn a dual bachelor of science
degree in physics and astronautical engineering from the United
States Air Force Academy in 1984 and a Master of Science in Aerospace
Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Military
career
Drew received his commission as a Second Lieutenant
from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1984. He completed
Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama in
1985. His initial assignment was to the HH-3E flying combat
rescue. He transitioned to the MH-60G and was assigned to the Air
Force Special Operations Command. There, he flew combat missions in
operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Operation
Provide Comfort. He completed USAF Fixed-Wing Qualification in 1993,
and the United States Naval Test Pilot School in June 1994. He has
commanded two flight test units and served on Air Combat Command
staff. He is a Command Pilot with 3000 hours flying time in over 30
types of aircraft.
NASA career
Selected as a mission
specialist by NASA in July 2000, Drew reported for training in August
2000. Following the completion of two years of training and
evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office
Station Operations Branch. He served in technical assignments until
he took a sabbatical to the U.S. Air Force’s Air University at
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, attending a Master’s Degree
program at their Air War College. When Clayton Anderson was moved to
STS-117 Al was selected for the available position on
STS-118.[2]
Awards and honors
Drew's
decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf
Cluster; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal with 5 Oak Leaf
Clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Air
Force Achievement Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 3 Oak
Leaf Clusters; Combat Readiness Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters;
National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and
the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 service stars.
Photo
and information coutesy of Wikipedia
| Home Page |