posted 07-21-2008 08:45 PM               

Astronaut Winston Scott Leaves NASA

After traveling over ten million miles in space, NASA Astronaut Winston E. Scott (Captain, USN) retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy at the end of July 1999 to accept a position at his alma mater, Florida State University, as Vice President for Student Affairs.

Selected as an astronaut in 1992, Scott is one of nine NASA African American astronauts who've flown in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-72 in 1996 and STS-87 in 1997, and logged a total of 24 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes in space. He took three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 26 minutes during the missions to support technical planning for the International Space Station and to capture, by hand, the Spartan satellite.

On STS-72 Scott participated in an almost seven-hour spacewalk from the orbiter Endeavour to test tools and procedures for use in the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station. The spacewalk included riding the end of the robot arm to evaluate spacesuit resistance to the bitter cold of space.

During Scott's second mission, STS-87 on the Columbia, he and fellow crewmember, Takao Doi, captured the Spartan science satellite during a nearly eight-hour spacewalk. In his two spacewalks on this mission, Scott was able to complete significant testing of EVA techniques and tools for assembling the International Space Station and check out a free-flying video camera. -MORE- -2-

Prior to becoming an astronaut, Scott accumulated more than 4,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft with more than 200 shipboard landings. He began his military aviation career as a Naval Aviator in August 1974 with an initial 4-year tour of duty flying the SH-2F Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter. After completing jet training in the TA-4J Skyhawk, he flew the F-14 Tomcat in a Navy fighter squadron. Scott flew the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft as a production test pilot; and the F-14, F/A-18 and A-7 aircraft as a research and development project pilot.

Scott earned a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering with avionics at the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California and served as an associate instructor of electrical engineering at Florida A&M University and Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Florida.

posted 07-21-2008 08:47 PM               

Former Astronaut Returns to Brevard County, Named Dean of Florida Tech College of Aeronautics

Florida Institute of Technology President Anthony J. Catanese has named Capt. (USN ret.) Winston E. Scott dean of the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics, effective Aug. 1, 2008. Scott, who will reside in Melbourne, has called Brevard County home in the past, as an astronaut and executive.

"We are honored to have Capt. Scott join us. His stature, experience, teaching gifts and administrative talents will greatly benefit the College of Aeronautics and immensely enrich the university," said Catanese.

From 2003 to 2006 Scott was executive director of the Florida Space Authority, based at Kennedy Space Center. In this capacity he advised Florida's governor and legislators on all matters related to space and aeronautics in the state. At that time he also was a part-time faculty member at Florida Tech, teaching aeronautics courses.

"We feel fortunate to have Capt. Scott back full time and in a leadership role," said Florida Tech Provost T. Dwayne McCay. "This distinguished former astronaut's scientific knowledge, technical skills and insights will be a great addition to the university."
Since 2006, Scott has been vice president and deputy general manager of the engineering and science contract group of Jacobs Engineering in Houston, Texas.

His biography reads like an American Dream success story. He describes his life, from birth in Miami, Fla., to becoming an astronaut and beyond in his 2005 memoir, Reflections from Earth Orbit.

After earning a bachelor's degree in music from Florida State University in 1972, Scott completed Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School and navy flight training, and was designated a naval aviator certified in piloting fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. After a tour of duty as a navy helicopter pilot in North Island, Calif., he was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, Calif., where he earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering with avionics. Following tactical jet training he was assigned as a fighter pilot to Fighter Squadron Eighty Four in Ocean, Va. flying the F-14 Tomcat fighter. He subsequently served as a test pilot at the Naval Aviation Depot at Jacksonville, Fla., flying the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. Scott accumulated more than 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft, and more than 200 shipboard landings.

Scott was selected by NASA for the Astronaut Corps in 1992. He served as a mission specialist on STS-72 in 1996 and on STS-87 in 1997. He logged more than 24 days in space, including three spacewalks.

He received honorary doctoral degrees from Florida Atlantic University in 1996 and Michigan State University in 2007. Among several affiliations with professional organizations, he is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Scott is a jazz trumpeter, who when on the Space Coast, joins in at local clubs. He also enjoys martial arts and holds a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate.

"I'm excited to be joining the Florida Tech family on a full-time basis. I could not ask for a better job than becoming a part of the great leadership team in place at the College of Aeronautics," said Scott. He added, "Florida is home to me and my wife Marilyn and we are looking forward to returning."

posted 03-30-2021 08:47 PM               

Former Astronaut Winston Scott Named to EFSC Board of Trustees

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed former NASA astronaut Winston Scott to the Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees.

Scott, of Melbourne, is a Senior Vice President at the Florida Institute of Technology and former NASA astronaut who flew on two space shuttle missions in 1996 and 1997, logging over 24 days in space and conducting three spacewalks with nearly 20 hours outside the spacecraft.

He is former Navy Captain who also served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Florida State University and Executive Director of the Florida Space Authority. Scott earned a Bachelor's Degree in music education from FSU and his Master's Degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School.

"I'm excited to be joining the Board and look forward to working with the leadership to continue moving the college forward. EFSC is an excellent institution that offers students great opportunities and plays a vital role in the life of the Space Coast," said Scott.

"I also believe my experience at Florida Tech will help enhance the already strong partnership that exists between EFSC and FIT in many areas."

EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey said Scott brings unique knowledge to the college that will be invaluable, especially as it continues to expand programs that are creating a pipeline of highly skilled employees for rapidly growing commercial aerospace companies near the Kennedy Space Center.

"Winston is a superb addition to the Board and I look forward to working with him. I'm also grateful to Governor DeSantis for appointing him."

Scott's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Scott replaces Moses Harvin, who has served on the Board since 2011 and helped transform what had been Brevard Community College into Eastern Florida State College in 2013.

During his tenure, the college has launched 60 new academic programs including 25 Bachelor Degree tracks and become recognized as one of the top state colleges in Florida.

"All of us at the college are indebted to Moses for the dedication and leadership he has brought to our students and community. We could not have had achieved as much as we have without him," said EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey.

Harvin, a retired Army Major, is President and CEO of American Services Technologies Inc., which serves the federal government including the Army, Air Force, Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Energy.

posted 04-17-2023 01:33 PM               

Veteran Astronaut Winston E. Scott Named Director of Operational Excellence at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Winston E. Scott, a veteran astronaut and retired United States Navy Captain, has been appointed Director of Operational Excellence at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Scott will be replacing veteran astronaut Bruce Melnick, as of April 15, 2023.

In his new role, Scott will be responsible for providing visitors with an exciting and memorable experience with veteran astronauts through oversight of the Astronaut Encounter program at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. In addition to the Astronaut Encounter experience, there are numerous ways for visitors to interact with real astronauts every day at the visitor complex, including behind-the-scenes tours like Fly With An Astronaut and the intimate Chat With An Astronaut.

"As we embark on an exciting new chapter in space exploration and eventually interplanetary travel, the opportunity to educate the next generation of space explorers is the perfect next phase of my career," said Scott. "I'm looking forward to sharing my passion for adventure and my experiences in space – and on Earth – with our guests."

Scott has spent a total of 24 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes in space. As mission specialist for the STS-72 Endeavour flight in 1996, Scott spent nine days in space with the crew that retrieved two satellites. During the mission, he also conducted two spacewalks to demonstrate and evaluate techniques to be used in the assembly of the International Space Station. The mission was accomplished in 142 orbits of the Earth, traveling 3.7 million miles, and logged him a total of 214 hours and 41 seconds in space.

In 1997, he served as mission specialist for STS-87, the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload flight that focused on experiments designed to study how the weightless environment of space affects various physical processes and on the Sun's outer atmospheric layers. During the mission, Scott performed two spacewalks. The first, a seven-hour 43-minute spacewalk, featured the manual capture of a Spartan satellite, in addition to testing tools and procedures for future Space Station assembly. The second spacewalk lasted five hours and also featured space station assembly tests. The entire mission was accomplished in 252 Earth orbits, traveling 6.5 million miles in 376 hours and 34 minutes.

Prior to joining the Astronaut Corps, Scott attended the Aviation Officer Candidate School after graduating from Florida State University in December 1972. He completed flight training in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1974. He then served a four-year tour of duty with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 33 at the Naval Air Station North Island, California, flying the SH-2F Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Systems (LAMPS) helicopter.

In 1978, Scott was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, where he earned his master of science degree in aeronautical engineering with an emphasis in avionics.

After completing jet training in the TA-4J Skyhawk, Scott served a tour of duty with Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, flying the F-14 Tomcat. In June 1986 he was designated an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. He then served as a production test pilot at Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, flying the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair II aircraft. He was also assigned as Director of the Product Support (engineering) Department. He was next assigned as the Deputy Director of the Tactical Aircraft Systems Department at the Naval Air Development Center at Warminster, Pennsylvania. As a research and development project pilot, he flew the F-14, F/A-18 and A-7 aircraft.

During his Naval career, Scott accumulated more than 7,000 hours of flight time in 25 different military and civilian aircraft and more than 200 shipboard landings.