View source for William C. McCool

{{short description|American astronaut (1961–2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = Willie McCool
|image         = William Cameron McCool.jpg
|caption       = William McCool in August 2001
|birth_name    = William Cameron Graham
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1961|9|23}}
|birth_place   = [[San Diego]], [[California]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|2003|2|1|1961|9|23}}
|death_place   = Over [[Palestine, Texas]], U.S.
|education     = {{ubl|[[United States Naval Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])|[[University of Maryland, College Park]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])|[[Naval Postgraduate School]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])}}
|awards        = {{ubl|[[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]}}
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]], [[United States Navy|USN]]
|time          = 15d 22h 20m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|NASA Group 16 (1996)]]
|mission       = [[STS-107]]
|insignia      = [[File:STS-107 Flight Insignia.svg|40px]]
}}
'''William Cameron "Willie" McCool''' (born '''William Cameron Graham'''; September 23, 1961&nbsp;– February 1, 2003) was an American [[United States Navy|naval officer]] and [[United States naval aviator|aviator]], [[test pilot]], [[aeronautical engineer]], and [[NASA astronaut]], who was the pilot of [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] mission [[STS-107]]. He and the rest of the crew of STS-107 were killed when ''Columbia'' [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disintegrated during reentry]] into the atmosphere.<ref name="NASA-JSC">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/mccool_william.pdf |title=William C. McCool (Commander, USN) NASA Astronaut (Deceased) |date=May 2004 |access-date=April 14, 2021| publisher=NASA}}. Note: this text, the work of a U.S. Government agency, is a work in the public domain.</ref><ref name="NYT-20071205">Kershaw, Sarah. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/us/05shuttle.html Space Shuttle Widow Is Ready to Move on From Rituals of Loss], [[New York Times]], December 5, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2010.</ref> McCool was posthumously awarded the [[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Congressional Space Medal of Honor|url=https://history.nasa.gov/spacemedal.htm|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=NASA}}</ref>

== Early life ==
McCool was born on September 23, 1961, in [[San Diego]], [[California]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Pearce |date=2003-02-03 |title=The Columbia astronauts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/feb/03/guardianobituaries.spaceexploration |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=February 2, 2003 |title=Seven heroes of Columbia |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2003/02/02/seven-heroes-columbia/50960186007/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Cape Cod Times |language=en-US}}</ref> His parents divorced when McCool was young, and in 1969, his mother married Barent McCool, a Naval aviator.<ref name="usnamh" /> McCool was active in the [[Boy Scouts of America]], where he became an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]].<ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/scouting_space.aspx William C. "Willie" McCool at scouting.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213130/http://www.scouting.org/about/factsheets/scouting_space.aspx |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref>
== Education ==

* 1976–77: Attended [[John F. Kennedy High School (Guam)|John F. Kennedy High School]], [[Tamuning, Guam]]<ref>Bongioanni, Carlos. [https://www.stripes.com/news/guam-remembers-former-resident-columbia-astronaut-mccool-1.1741 Guam remembers former resident, Columbia astronaut McCool], [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]], February 7, 2003.  Retrieved January 1, 2019.</ref>
* 1979: Graduated from [[Coronado High School (Lubbock)|Coronado High School]], [[Lubbock, Texas]].
* 1983: Received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Applied Science]] from the [[United States Naval Academy]].<ref name="NYT-20071205" />
* 1985: Received a [[Master of Science]] degree in [[Computer Science]] from the [[University of Maryland, College Park]].<ref name="NASA-JSC" />
* 1991: Graduated from [[United States Naval Test Pilot School]], [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]] - Class 101.
* 1992: Received a Master of Science degree in [[Aeronautical Engineering]] from the U.S. [[Naval Postgraduate School]].<ref name="NASA-JSC" />

== Flight experience ==

McCool completed flight training and was designated a [[Naval Aviator]] in August 1986. He was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 ([[VAQ-129]]) at [[NAS Whidbey Island]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], for initial [[EA-6B Prowler]] training. McCool's first operational tour was with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133 ([[VAQ-133]]), where he made two deployments aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and received designation as a wing-qualified [[landing signal officer]] (LSO). In November 1989, McCool was selected for the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School/[[United States Naval Test Pilot School|Test Pilot School]] (TPS) Cooperative Education Program.<ref name="NASA-JSC" />

After graduating from TPS in June 1992, McCool worked as a [[TA-4J]] and EA-6B test pilot in Flight Systems Department of Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at [[NAS Patuxent River]], [[Maryland]]. He was responsible for the management and conduct of a wide variety of projects, ranging from airframe fatigue life studies to numerous avionics upgrades. However, McCool's primary efforts were dedicated to flight test of the [[Advanced Capability EA-6B|Advanced Capability (ADVCAP) EA-6B]]. Following his Patuxent River tour, McCool returned to Whidbey Island, and was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 ([[VAQ-132]]) aboard the carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}. He served as Administrative and Operations Officer with the squadron through their work-up cycle, receiving notice of his NASA selection while embarked on ''Enterprise'' for her final pre-deployment at sea period.<ref name="NASA-JSC" />

McCool accumulated over 2,800 flight hours in 24 aircraft as well as more than 400 carrier arrestments, also known as "traps".<ref name=usnamh>{{cite web|title=William C. McCool, CDR, USN |url=https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLIAM_C._MCCOOL,_CDR,_USN#:~:text=McCool%20accumulated%20over%202%2C800%20hours,flight%20assignment%20as%20a%20pilot.|publisher=U.S. Naval Academy Memorial Hall|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref>

== NASA experience ==

Selected by [[NASA]] in April 1996, McCool reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] the following August.<ref name=usnamh /> He completed two years of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Initially assigned to the Computer Support Branch, McCool also served as technical assistant to the director of flight crew operations, and worked Shuttle cockpit upgrade issues for the Astronaut Office.<ref name="NASA-JSC"/>

=== Spaceflight experience ===
{{Main|STS-107}}
McCool was pilot of Space Shuttle mission [[STS-107]], January 16 to February 1, 2003, logging 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space. The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and research mission. Working 24 hours a day, in two alternating shifts, the crew successfully conducted approximately 80 experiments. According to NASA, McCool said of the unique view he and his crewmates had from Columbia:<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering NASA's Columbia shuttle tragedy|first=Emily |last=McCain|date=February 1, 2019 |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/remembering-nasas-columbia-shuttle-tragedy|publisher=ABC Action News Tampa Bay|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref><ref name="107mem">{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-107/memorial/mccool.html |title=William McCool STS-107 Crew Memorial|date=January 28, 2004|publisher=NASA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041106134007/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-107/memorial/mccool.html |archive-date=November 6, 2004 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=From our orbital vantage point, we observe an earth without borders, full of peace, beauty and magnificence, and we pray that humanity as a whole can imagine a borderless world as we see it and strive to live as one in peace.|author=William Cameron McCool|title=29 January 2003 onboard ''Columbia''}}

STS-107's mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003, when [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] broke up over the southern United States during re-entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. All seven crew members were killed.

McCool was posthumously awarded the [[NASA Space Flight Medal]], the [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]], the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (DDSM), and the [[Congressional Space Medal of Honor]].<ref name="NASA-JSC" />

== Personal life ==
McCool's favorite song was "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]" by [[John Lennon]], which was played during the STS-107 mission. His favorite band was [[Radiohead]], and the song "[[Fake Plastic Trees]]" was played by [[Mission Control]] as a wake-up call.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fries |first=Colin |date=March 13, 2015 |title=Chronology of Wakeup Calls |url=https://history.nasa.gov/wakeup%20calls.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220093919/https://history.nasa.gov/wakeup%20calls.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |access-date=November 25, 2022 |publisher=NASA History Division}}</ref>

McCool was survived by his wife, Lani, and their three sons. He is buried in [[Anacortes, Washington]], where he lived at the time of his death.<ref name="NYT-20071205" /><ref>{{cite web |date=February 3, 2003 |title=McCool's excitement was infectious / Anacortes mourns shocking loss of generous, inspiring neighbor |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/McCool-s-excitement-was-infectious-1106630.php |access-date=February 19, 2011 |publisher=[[Seattle P-I]]}}</ref>

== Organizations ==

* U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association

== Honors ==

* [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]]<ref name="honor">{{cite book | last = Townley | first = Alvin | url = http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com/TD_TitleDetail.aspx?ISBN=0312366531 | title = Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts | year = 2007 | publisher = [[St. Martin's Press]] | location = New York | pages = 79 | isbn = 978-0-312-36653-7 | access-date = December 29, 2006 | archive-date = December 19, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061219180428/http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com/TD_TitleDetail.aspx?ISBN=0312366531 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* Served as team captain of the U.S. Naval Academy [[Cross country running|Cross Country]] team his senior year
* Graduated second of 1,083 in the Class of 1983 at the U.S. Naval Academy
* Presented "Outstanding Student" and "Best DT-II Thesis" awards as graduate of [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]], Class 101<ref name=usnamh/>
* Awarded [[Navy Commendation Medal]] (2)<ref name=usnamh/>
* Awarded [[Navy Achievement Medal]] (2)<ref name=usnamh/>
* Posthumously promoted to Captain by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro October 7, 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=SECNAV Del Toro Awards Posthumous Promotion to Cmdr. William C. McCool |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3551667/secnav-del-toro-awards-posthumous-promotion-to-cmdr-william-c-mccool/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=United States Navy |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:McCoolSchoolGuam.JPG|thumb|Commander William C. McCool School in [[Sånta Rita-Sumai, Guam]]]]
* Asteroid [[51829 Williemccool]] was posthumously named for McCool.<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web |title = 51829 Williemccool (2001 OD41)|work= Minor Planet Center |url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=51829|access-date = November 25, 2022}}</ref>
* Lunar crater McCool is named after him.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lunar crater McCool | url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14141?__fsk=-239757979 | website = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | publisher = [[IAU]] | access-date=June 16, 2021}}</ref>
* [[McCool Hill]] in the [[Columbia Hills (Mars)|Columbia Hills]] on [[Mars]] was posthumously named for McCool.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spirit Discovers "New" Highest Peak in "Columbia Hills"|url=https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mer_feature_20060302.html|date=March 2, 2006|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=NASA|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807143108/https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mer_feature_20060302.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* McCool Hall, in the Columbia Village apartments at the [[Florida Institute of Technology]], is named after him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Tech to Dedicate Residence Hall Complex in Memory of Columbia|url=https://news.fit.edu/archive/florida-tech-to-dedicate-residence-hall-complex-in-memory-of-columbia/|date=August 8, 2003|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=Florida Institute of Technology}}</ref>
* Guam South Elementary/Middle School, a [[Department of Defense Education Activity|DoDEA]] school in [[Santa Rita, Guam]], was renamed CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School on August 29, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Law 108 - 13 - An act to rename the Guam South Elementary/Middle School of the DoD Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools System in honor of Navy Commander William ''Willie'' McCool|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-108publ13|date=April 22, 2003|publisher=Congressional Record, Vol. 149 (2003)|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref>
* Willie McCool Track and Field at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas, was posthumously named for McCool.<ref name=npssrs/>
* Willie McCool Memorial with Bronze Sculpture was dedicated on Saturday, May 7, 2005, at Huneke Park at 82nd and Quaker Avenue in Lubbock, Texas.<ref name=npssrs/>
*Commander William C. McCool Academy, opened in the fall of 2020, is a STEM middle school in Lubbock Texas<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lubbockisd.org/domain/909 | title=About McCool Academy / About Commander William C. McCool Academy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/08/17/lubbockrsquos-new-mccool-academy-opens-with-first-day-of-school/113824956/ | title=Lubbock's new McCool Academy opens with first day of school }}</ref>
* The William McCool Science Center, located on the campus of the Frank Lamping Elementary School in [[Henderson, Nevada]], is a facility where elementary students throughout the [[Clark County School District]] have an opportunity to learn about space and other fields of science.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the WMSC|url=https://lampingelementary.com/wmsc-history-of-the-wmsc|publisher=Lamping Elementary School|access-date=November 25, 2022}}</ref>
* A [[Gawad Kalinga]] village in Moncada, [[Tarlac]], [[Philippines]], will be named "USN Commander Willie McCool GK Village".<ref>{{cite news|title=GK village named after US astronaut|first=Patricia|last=Esteves|date=April 29, 2007|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2007/04/29/396573/gk-village-named-after-us-astronaut|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=Philippine Star}}</ref>
* In the ''[[Star Trek]]'' book ''Mirror Universe – Glass Empires,'' the shuttlecraft of the U.S.S. ''Defiant'' in the short story "Age of the Empress" is named the ''McCool.''
* McCool Track at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, [[Naval Station Newport]], [[Rhode Island]] is named after him.<ref name=npssrs/>
*The spacefaring game ''Elite: Dangerous'' contains a starport in the Jaroua system named "McCool City".
* The Willie McCool Monument was dedicated on December 2, 2007, at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course. The monument stands where Willie would have been 16 minutes from the finish line during his fastest race on Navy's home course.
* The Willie McCool Memorial Model Air Field park located in [[North Las Vegas, Nevada]] was posthumously named for McCool on October 23, 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=North Las Vegas airfield gathering place for remote-controlled plane enthusiasts|first=Sandy |last=Lopez View
|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/uncategorized/north-las-vegas-airfield-gathering-place-for-remote-controlled-plane-enthusiasts/ |date=February 5, 2016|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref>
* McCool Hall, located on [[Tinker AFB]], [[Oklahoma]] is a Navy Bachelors Enlisted Quarters named after McCool.<ref name=npssrs>{{cite report|title=Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial Special Resource Study|url=http://npshistory.com/publications/srs/spsh-srs.pdf
|date=October 2014|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
* Camp McCool, located in [[Bagram Airfield]], was the home of rotating EA-6B Prowler Squadrons supporting [[ISAF]] in [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp McCool's brief impact|date= August 23, 2012|first=TSgt Shawn David |last=McCowan|url=https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/455th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing/News/Display/Article/273979/camp-mccools-brief-impact/|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=U.S. Air Force}}</ref>
* The FAA named a Fix/Waypoint MCCUL near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (also near Anacortes, WA) located at 48 13.11N, 123 07.03W. Navy pilots are routinely vectored to the McCool waypoint.
* The McCool Breakthrough Award is named after Willie McCool and is given to an individual who has made a significant breakthrough in the spirit of ICHRIE's mission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chrie.org/about/awards/index.aspx?wp1813936608-slide=6 |title=The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education: About » Awards |access-date=February 9, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209222832/http://www.chrie.org/about/awards/index.aspx?wp1813936608-slide=6 |archive-date=February 9, 2015  }}</ref>
* The Commander William C. McCool Academy is Lubbock ISD’s newest magnet middle school.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lubbock ISD Board names new magnet school after Willie McCool|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/2019/12/12/lubbock-isd-board-names-new-magnet-school-after-willie-mccool/2094990007/|first=Matt |last=Dotray|date=December 12, 2019|access-date=November 25, 2022|publisher=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|Spaceflight}}
* [[List of Eagle Scouts]]
* [[List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents]]
* [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster]]
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|William Cameron McCool}}
*{{IMDb name|4120309}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020305052948/http://www.astronautix.com/astros/mccool.htm Astronautix biography of William C. McCool]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/mccool_william.htm Spacefacts biography of William C. McCool]
* [https://www.amfcse.org/william-c-mccool-1 William C. McCool at Astronauts Memorial page]

{{Congressional Space Medal of Honor}}
{{STS-107}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 16}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCool, William Cameron}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Texas]]
[[Category:American aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Aviators from California]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:Burials at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery]]
[[Category:Coronado High School (Lubbock, Texas) alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from San Diego]]
[[Category:Naval Postgraduate School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Anacortes, Washington]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Navy captains]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni]]
[[Category:Navy Midshipmen men's cross country runners]]