View source for Roy D. Bridges Jr.

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{short description|American astronaut and USAF general (born 1943)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Roy Bridges
|image = Roy Bridges.jpg
|office = Director of the [[Langley Research Center]]
|president = [[George W. Bush]]
|term_start = June 13, 2003
|term_end = October 3, 2005
|predecessor = Delma Freeman (Acting)
|successor = [[Lesa Roe]]
|birth_name = Roy Dubard Bridges Jr. 
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|7|19}}
|birth_place = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], U.S.
|death_date = 
|death_place = 
|education = [[United States Air Force Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Purdue University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|module        = {{Infobox astronaut
|child         = yes
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
|time          = 7d 22h 45m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 9|NASA Group 9 (1980)]]
|mission       = [[STS-51-F]]<br>[[STS-61-F]] (never flew)
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-51-f-patch.png|60px]] [[File:STS-61-F patch.png|60px]]}}
}}
'''Roy Dubard Bridges Jr.''' (born July 19, 1943) is an American [[Aviator|pilot]], [[engineer]], retired [[United States Air Force|United States Air Force officer]], [[test pilot]], former [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] and the former director of [[NASA]]'s [[John F. Kennedy Space Center]] and [[Langley Research Center]]. As a command pilot, he has over 4,460 flying hours,<ref name=USAFBio /> and is a decorated veteran of 262 [[Aerial warfare|combat missions]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. He retired as a [[U.S. Air Force]] [[Major General (United States)|major general]], last serving as the Director of Requirements, Headquarters [[Air Force Materiel Command]], [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]], from June 1993 until his retirement. He is married with two adult children.

==Early life and education==
Born July 19, 1943, in [[Atlanta]], Bridges grew up in [[Gainesville, Georgia]], and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1961. He was active in the [[Boy Scouts of America]], where he achieved its second-highest rank, [[Life Scout]].  He is a distinguished graduate of the [[United States Air Force Academy]], [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], earning a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[engineering science]] in 1965. He received a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[Astronautics]] from [[Purdue University]], [[West Lafayette, Indiana]], in 1966.

==NASA career==
Bridges served as a NASA [[astronaut]], piloting the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] on mission [[STS-51-F]] (July 29 to August 6, 1985).

Bridges became the Director of NASA's [[Langley Research Center]] in 2003, after serving as Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC). He retired from Langley and from NASA at the end of 2005. As the senior management official of the laboratory employing approximately 2,100 NASA civil service and 1,800 contractor personnel, Bridges was responsible for the center's aeronautical and space research programs, as well as facilities, personnel, and administration. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing facilities and activities related to the processing and launch of the [[Space Shuttle]], processing and integration of Shuttle payloads and those aboard [[Expendable launch system|Expendable Launch Vehicles]] (ELVs), as well as final tests and preparation of elements delivered to the [[International Space Station]] via Shuttle.  He was also responsible for managing the acquisition and launch of all NASA ELV missions.

As Director of the [[Kennedy Space Center]] for over six years, Bridges was responsible for managing NASA's only site for processing and launch of the [[Space Shuttle program|Space Shuttle]] vehicle; processing the [[Payload (air and space craft)|payload]]s flown on both the Shuttle and expendable launch vehicles; and overseeing expendable vehicle launches carrying NASA payloads. He managed a team of about 2,000 NASA civil servants and about 14,000 contractors.

==Military career==
Bridges, a decorated veteran of 262 [[Aerial warfare|combat missions]] during [[Vietnam War]], is a retired [[U.S. Air Force]] [[Major General (United States)|major general]] who served as the director of requirements, Headquarters [[Air Force Materiel Command]], [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]], from June 1993 until his retirement July 1, 1996. In that position he served as the Command focal point for product management policy, processes and resources.

Prior to his assignment at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Bridges was the commander, [[Air Force Flight Test Center]], [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]]. He has served in several key leadership positions including deputy chief of staff, test and resources, Headquarters [[Air Force Systems Command]], [[Andrews Air Force Base]], [[Maryland]]; commander, [[Eastern Space and Missile Center]], [[Patrick Air Force Base]], [[Florida]]; commander, [[412th Test Wing|6510th Test Wing]], Edwards Air Force Base, California.

In the course of his career he has completed the following assignments:<ref name=USAFBio>{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107570/major-general-roy-d-bridges-jr/ |title=Major General Roy D. Bridges, Jr |date= |website=AF.mil |publisher=US Air Force |access-date=November 3, 2018}}</ref>

===Assignments===
* June 1965 to January 1966, student, [[Purdue University]], [[Indiana]] 
* March 1966, student, pilot training, [[Williams Air Force Base]], [[Arizona]] 
* March 1967, [[F-100 Super Sabre|F-100]] pilot, [[524th Tactical Fighter Squadron]], [[Cannon Air Force Base]], [[New Mexico]] 
* December 1968, F-100 pilot, [[416th Tactical Fighter Squadron]] and Commando Sabre Operation (Misty), [[Phu Cat Air Base]], [[Republic of Vietnam]]
* January 1970, [[Cessna T-37 Tweet|T-37]] instructor pilot, [[3575th Pilot Training Squadron]], [[Vance Air Force Base]], [[Oklahoma]] 
* July 1970, student, United States Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]]
* July 1971, test pilot, [[Air Force Flight Test Center]], Edwards AFB
* August 1975, distinguished graduate, [[Air Command and Staff College]], [[Maxwell Air Force Base]], [[Alabama]]
* June 1976, [[F-15]] and [[A-10]] program element monitor, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, [[Washington, D.C.]]
* July 1979, Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research, Development, and Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 
* November 1979, assistant director of Plans, Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center, [[Nellis Air Force Base]], [[Nevada]] 
* July 1980, Astronaut, [[Johnson Space Center]], [[Houston, Texas]] 
* May 1986, commander of [[6510th Test Wing]], Edwards AFB
* March 1989, commander of [[Eastern Space and Missile Center]], [[Patrick Air Force Base]], [[Florida]] 
* January 1990, deputy chief of staff, test and resources, Headquarters [[Air Force Systems Command]], [[Andrews Air Force Base]], [[Maryland]] 
* August 1991, commander of Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB
* June 1993, director of requirements, Headquarters [[Air Force Materiel Command]], [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]]
* July 1, 1996, retired.

===Effective dates of promotion===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Promotions<ref name=USAFBio />
! Insignia !! Rank !! Date
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|56px]]||[[Major general (United States)|Major general]]||January 1, 1993
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|28px]]||[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]]||July 1, 1990
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|40px]]||[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]||December 1, 1983
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|28px]]||[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]]||August 10, 1979
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|28px]]||[[Major (United States)|Major]]||November 19, 1973
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|28px]]||[[Captain (United States)|Captain]]||June 13, 1968
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-OF1A.svg|10px]]||[[First Lieutenant (United States)|First lieutenant]]||December 9, 1966
|- style="text-align:center;"
||[[File:US-OF1B.svg|10px]]||[[Second lieutenant#United States|Second lieutenant]]||June 9, 1965
|}

===Awards and decorations===

{|
|[[File:USAF Master Astronaut badge.jpg|200px]] || USAF Master Astronaut badge
|-
|[[File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg|150px]] ||United States Air Force Parachutist badge
|}
{|
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=80}} ||US Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 [[Oak leaf cluster|OLC]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=80}} ||Legion of Merit ribbon with 1 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon|width=80}} ||Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon with 2 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=80}} ||Meritorious Service ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=14|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Medal with 14 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Force Commendation ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=NASA Outstanding Leadership Ribbon.png|width=80}} ||NASA Outstanding Leadership ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=80}} ||Space Flight ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png|width=80}} ||AF Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=80}} ||Outstanding Unit ribbon with 2 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=80}} ||Organizational Excellence ribbon with 1 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=80}} ||National Defense Service Medal with 1 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Ribbon|width=80}} ||Vietnam Service ribbon with 3 Service Stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Force Longevity Service ribbon with 6 OLC
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=USAF Marksmanship ribbon|width=80}} ||USAF Marksmanship ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=80}} ||Air Force Training ribbon
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d|width=80}} ||Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=80}} ||Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon
|}

He is the recipient of several awards and honors including recognition as a distinguished graduate of Air Force Pilot Training and a top graduate of the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School]], the [[Presidential Rank Awards|Presidential Meritorious Executive Award]], and a NASA Certificate of Commendation. He is a member of the [[Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Major General Roy D. Bridges Jr.|url=http://www.gaaviationhalloffame.com/Hall-of-Fame.48.0.html?avid=22|access-date=October 9, 2018|website=Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602002201/http://www.gaaviationhalloffame.com/Hall-of-Fame.48.0.html?avid=22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bridges is married to the former Benita Louise Allbaugh of [[Tucson, Arizona]]. They have two adult children.

Bridges is an executive with [[Northrop Grumman]] Technical Services.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Spaceflight}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/bridges_roy_0.pdf | title=Biographical Data: ROY D. BRIDGES, JR. NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER) |access-date=January 10, 2021 |date=October 2005|publisher=NASA}}
*[http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/bridges_roy.htm Spacefacts biography of Roy D. Bridges Jr.]

{{Include-NASA}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 9}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, Roy D. Jr.}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:Center Directors of NASA]]
[[Category:Directors of the Kennedy Space Center]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Atlanta]]
[[Category:People from Gainesville, Georgia]]
[[Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics alumni]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]