Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie

Template:Short description Template:Infobox astronaut Dominic Lee Pudwill Gorie (born May 2, 1957) is a retired United States Navy officer and NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions.

Personal

Gorie was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His father, Capt. Paul Pudwill, was killed when the B-47 Stratojet he was flying developed ice on its wings and crashed; Dominic was six years old.<ref name="orlandosentinel.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He enrolled in the United States Naval Academy where he studied ocean engineering.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following graduation in 1979, he trained as a pilot and served tours of duty aboard the aircraft carriers Template:USS and Template:USS. In 1987, he trained as a test pilot and worked at the Naval Air Test Center until the Gulf War, where, stationed aboard the carrier Template:USS, he flew combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He currently resides in Salida, Colorado.

Education

Gorie graduated from Miami Palmetto High School in Pinecrest, Florida, in 1975. He then obtained his bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1979, and his master of science degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and honors

Military

• Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (2) one with Combat “V”, Air Medal (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” (2)<ref name=gorie/>

NASA

• NASA Space Flight Medal (3)<ref name=gorie/>

Others

• National Wrestling Hall of Fame, 2017

Military career

Designated a Naval Aviator in 1981. Flew the A-7E Corsair II with Attack Squadron 46 aboard Template:USS from 1981 to 1983. Transitioned to Strike Fighter Squadron 132 (VFA-132) in 1983, flying the F/A-18 Hornet aboard Template:USS until 1986. Attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1987 and served as a Test Pilot at the Naval Air Test Center from 1988 to 1990. Then was assigned to VFA-87 flying the F/A-18 aboard Template:USS until 1992. He participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying 38 combat missions. In 1992 received orders to the U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado for two years before reporting to VFA-106 for F/A-18 refresher training. He was en route to his command tour of VFA-37 when he was selected as an astronaut candidate.

Gorie accumulated over 6,000 hours in more than 35 aircraft and has over 600 carrier landings.<ref name="orlandosentinel.com"/>

Gorie retired from the U.S. Navy in September 2005.<ref name=gorie/>

NASA career

In 1994, Gorie was selected as an astronaut candidate. He first flew as the pilot of mission STS-91 in 1998 and again as pilot on mission STS-99 in 2000. In 2001, Gorie was commander of mission STS-108, a visit to the International Space Station. In 2008, Gorie completed his 4th mission aboard a shuttle with STS-123.<ref name=gorie>Template:Cite web</ref>