Bill attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated with a degree in Engineering Sciences. After this, he attended Columbia University, achieving a master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics, and Troy University to receive another master’s in Business Management. He is a member of the USAF Academy Association of Graduates, the Daedalians, and the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Aerospace and Defense, in addition to four other board of director’s positions.

Between 1981 and 1986, Bill served as an operational fighter pilot flying the D and F models of the F-111. In this capacity, he served as an instructor pilot at RAF Lakenheath, UK, and Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico. He attended the USAF Test Pilot School in 1987. Between 1988 and 1990 Bill served as a test pilot at Edwards AFB flying the F-4, A-7D, and all five models of the F-15. Having flown in excess of 40 types of aircraft, Bill has accumulated over 8,000 hours of flight time. He is a Master Certified Flight Instructor-Aerobatic.

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Bill became an astronaut in July 1991. He flew as Space Shuttle Pilot on STS-67 and has logged 400 hours in space. He served in several technical assignments, culminating with Vehicle Systems & Operations Branch Chief. After selection to the rank of Colonel, he retired from the Air Force and left NASA in the fall of 1999.

Bill spent nine years as the Senior Sales Manager for Human Space with Honeywell Defense and Space. He received the Top Performer Award twice, winning several large programs, culminating with a $700M contract for the avionics subsystem for the Crew Exploration Vehicle [CEV].

For four years, Bill served as Vice President of Business Development for Micro-Tronics – a specialty machining and rubber products manufacturer; and Qwaltec – a supplier of Systems Engineering, both in Tempe, Arizona. Bill is now an Advanced Instructor Pilot for Aviation-Performance-Solutions in Mesa, Arizona. He has competed in the World Championships for Duathlon and the IRONMAN Triathlon and enjoys snow and water skiing, and wakeboarding.

Astronauts, Space, NASA, Air Force Engineering, Technology, Science,