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Ed Gibson    

Former Astronaut & Former Record Holder for the Number of Days in Space

For 21 years, Ed Gibson held the American record of 84 days in space. During his mission on Skylab, America's first space station, he also worked outside for over 15 hours during three different space walks.

In his 14-year NASA career, Ed Gibson supported the Apollo 12 crew and was their communicator while they explored the moon. Ed Gibson earned Air Force wings and logged over 2,200 hours in high-performance aircraft, 100 hours in helicopters and 2017 hours in space.

Ed Gibson earned a BS in engineering from the University of Rochester and a MS and PhD in Engineering and Physics from the California Institute of Technology. After a year in industry, Ed Gibson was selected as one of six of the first Scientist-Astronauts, edging out 2,000 applicants.

Ed Gibson excelled in program management and marketing with Booz, Allen, and Hamilton and TRW and as President of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Gibson also started his own consulting company, Gibson International Corp. Ed Gibson recently retired, and he is now Chairman of the NASA Review Board for America's return to the moon.

In 1997, Gibson was one of 24 Apollo astronauts inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Speech Topics

The Adventure of Spaceflight

Just as explorers, and later settlers, sailed the seas and spread across our continent, humans now leave our planet and venture into space. From liftoff and space walks to re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, Ed's audience become entranced by a world that only a handful of humans have ever experienced. Gliding over Earth at a serene five miles per second, living months without gravity, and watching Earth's features become as familiar as the face of an old friend were commonplace experiences during Ed's record-breaking, 35-million-mile space flight. With touches of humor, he puts the mind of the audience into the astronaut's mind and body to experience their sensations and emotions. Now, as 14 nations complete another space station and the US strives to return to the moon, the recounting of his life in space and its medical challenges are not just fascinating, but also highly relevant.

Spaceflight and Management

Humankind's most ambitious and exciting venture human flight to the moon succeeded beyond all expectations. Adherence to the basic principles of good management guided by common sense led the way. As Ed describes the triumphs of America's lunar program, he identifies the seven basic principles of good management that led to success principles that apply to any endeavor, public, private, or non-profit. Drawing on his spaceflight experiences, Ed illustrates the ability to initiate action, focus on the mission, organize lean, competent teams, motivate and properly support staff, and lastly, step aside. The presentation is enriched by Ed's ability to put the listener into the spacecraft and experience flight. Through humor and insight into America's opportunities in space, he demonstrates how sound management return the U.S. to the moon and the average manager can become not only a great manager but also a great leader.

The Heart of Leadership

When John F. Kennedy declared, "I believe we should go to the moon before this decade is out," thousands of American workers attacked this seemingly insurmountable task. As was true when President Kennedy issued this challenge, current managers have a acceptable levels of administrative ability but the qualities that distinguish true leaders are much less common. Ed weaves together absorbing accounts of spaceflight with identification of leadership qualities of early pioneers who set the stage and spearheaded rocketry development, JFK who inspired a nation, an astronaut manager who demanded an altruistic mission focus, and dynamic heroes on the ground who impelled success from mission control. Ed shows how these leaders, driven by vision and courage, earned the respect and trust yet tempered their drives with an empathy that added a human touch to their greatness.

Books

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Reach
1989

News

Astronaut Ed Gibson to Visit Challenger Space Center Arizona ...
Jul 19, 2013 ... Astronaut Ed Gibson to Visit Challenger Space Center Arizona ... July 19 at 2 p.m. about his mission history and experiences with NASA.
NASA - Marshall Star, February 20, 2013 Edition
Feb 20, 2013 ... Image right: Letter written by former astronaut Ed Gibson, science pilot on board Skylab 4, to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Director ...

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