View source for William F. Readdy

{{Short description|American test pilot, astronaut and manager (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name          = William Readdy
|image         = WilliamFrancisReaddy.jpg
|birth_name    = William Francis Readdy
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1952|1|24}}
|birth_place   = [[Quonset Point, Rhode Island]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|Death_place   = 
|education     = [[United States Naval Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|type          = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank          = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]], [[United States Navy|USN]]
|time          = 28d 0h 44m
|selection     = [[NASA Astronaut Group 12|NASA Group 12 (1987)]]
|mission       = [[STS-42]]<br>[[STS-51]]<br>[[STS-79]]
|insignia      = [[File:Sts-42-patch.png|55px]] [[File:Sts-51-patch.png|45px]] [[File:STS-79 patch.svg|45px]]
}}
'''William Francis Readdy''' is a former Associate Administrator of the Office of Space Flight, at [[NASA Headquarters]]. He is also a veteran pilot astronaut with three space flights - STS-42, STS-51, and STS-79 on his record.

==Personal life==
He was born January 24, 1952, in [[Quonset Point, Rhode Island]], and is married to Colleen Nevius. They have two sons and a daughter.<ref name="wreaddy">{{cite web  |title=William F. Readdy Biography |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/readdy_william.pdf |website=Biographical Data |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507072501/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/readdy_william.pdf |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |date=January 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

He graduated from [[McLean High School]], [[McLean, Virginia]], in 1970 and received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Aerospace engineering#Aerospace engineering degrees|aerospace engineering]] (with honors) from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1974.<ref name="bio-usna">{{cite web|title=USNA Notable Graduates - William F. Readdy |url=https://www.usna.edu/Notables/astronauts/1974readdy.php |website=usna.edu |access-date=October 2, 2025}}</ref> He's a distinguished graduate of the [[United States Naval Test Pilot School]] 1980. Readdy is a Fellow of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]], the [[Explorers Club]], and the [[Royal Astronautical Society]] and is an Associate Fellow of the [[AIAA]]. He also belongs to the [[Association of Space Explorers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space-explorers.org/USA |title=Association of Space Explorers Members (USA)|website=space-explorers.org|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Experience==
Readdy graduated from [[United States Naval Academy|Annapolis]] in 1974, and earned his wings as a [[Naval Aviator]]. Following fleet training in the [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6 Intruder]] at [[NAS Oceana]], [[Virginia]], he joined Attack Squadron Eighty-five aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}} deployed to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1976 until 1980. Upon completion of the Naval Test Pilot School, he served as project test pilot on a variety of programs at [[Strike Aircraft Test Directorate]]. Following a tour as a [[test pilot]] instructor, he reported in 1984 to {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}}, on Caribbean and Mediterranean deployments. In 1986 Readdy transferred into the [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Reserve]] to join [[NASA]] and served as an instructor pilot and unit commander until his naval retirement in August 2000. He has logged 7,000 flying hours in over 60 types of [[fixed wing]] and [[helicopter]]s and over 550 carrier landings.<ref name="bio-usna"/>

Readdy joined NASA's [[Johnson Space Center]] in October 1986 as a research pilot at [[Ellington Field]], [[Houston, Texas]], where he served as program manager for the highly modified [[Boeing 747]] [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]]. He was selected as an [[astronaut]] in the 1987 Group. He served in numerous support roles including: Training Officer; Safety Officer; Operations Development Branch Chief; NASA Director of Operations, [[Star City, Russia]]; Stafford Task Force; and the first manager of [[Space Shuttle]] Program Development charged with upgrading the Space Shuttle.<ref name="wreaddy"/>

Readdy is a veteran pilot astronaut with three [[space flight]]s, [[STS-42]] (January 22–30, 1992),<ref name="STS-42">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-42 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-42.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506152348/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-42.html |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |date=March 31, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[STS-51]] (September 12–22, 1993)<ref name="STS-51">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-51 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507072710/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51.html |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |date=March 31, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> and, most recently, [[STS-79]] (September 16–26, 1996).<ref name="STS-79">{{cite web |last1=Ryba |first1=Jeanne |title=STS-79 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-79.html |website=Mission Archives |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506153032/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-79.html |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |date=November 23, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Readdy has logged over 672 hours in space.

Readdy then served as Associate Administrator, NASA HQ Office of Space Flight that has oversight for the [[Marshall Space Flight Center|Marshall]], [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[John C. Stennis Space Center|Stennis]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|Johnson]] [[Space Center]]s as well as programmatic oversight for [[International Space Station]], Space Shuttle, Space Communications and Space Launch Vehicles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Administrator Sean O’Keefe Selects Astronaut William F. Readdy as Space Flight Associate Administrator |date=August 6, 2002 |url=https://spacenews.com/administrator-sean-okeefe-selects-astronaut-william-f-readdy-as-space-flight-associate-administrator/ |publisher=Space News |access-date=October 2, 2025}}</ref>

Readdy retired from NASA after 19 years of service on October 15, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Space operations chief announces retirement |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2005/08/space-operations-chief-announces-retirement/19893/ |first=Beth |last=Dickey |date=August 12, 2005 |website=govexec.com|access-date=October 5, 2025}}</ref>

==Post-NASA career==
Readdy served on the board of directors of the [[Challenger Center for Space Science Education]] as Treasurer. In 2007, he was appointed chairman of the board of Challenger Center.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/challenger-center-for-space-science-education-names-nasa-veteran-william-readdy-as-next-board-chairman/ |title=Challenger Center for Space Science Education Names NASA Veteran William Readdy As Next Board Chairman |date=December 4, 2007 |publisher=spaceref.com|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> Readdy is also currently a member of the board of directors of [[Astrobotic Technology]], a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff company that is competing for the ''[[Google Lunar X Prize]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA UAV test pilot; distinguished astronaut; two technology investors join Astrobotic Technology Board of Directors  |url=https://www.astrobotic.com/nasa-uav-test-pilot-distinguished-astronaut-two-technology-investors-join-astrobotic-technology-board-of-directors/ |date=November 18, 2008 |website=astrobotic.com|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> In July 2018, Readdy was appointed to the Firefly Aerospace Advisory Board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Firefly Aerospace Announces Formation of Advisory Board |url=https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-announces-formation-of-advisory-board/ |date=July 23, 2018|website=fireflyspace.com|access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Special honors==
Recipient of the [[Legion of Merit]], the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (U.S.)|Distinguished Flying Cross]], the [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]], two [[NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal]]s, two [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]s, three [[NASA Space Flight Medal]]s, the [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], the [[Navy Commendation Medal]], [[Navy Achievement Medal]], [[Navy Expeditionary Medal]], two [[National Defense Service Medal]]s, the [[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]], [[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]], and various unit and service awards. [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] Instructor of the Year (1984). NASA Space Flight Safety Award. [[Federation Aeronautique Internationale]] awards include: the [[Kamarov Diploma]] ([[STS-51]]), the [[De la Vaulx Medal]] ([[STS-79]]) and a [[World Record]] Certificate (STS-79).<ref name="wreaddy"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|1004520}}

{{NASA_Astronaut_Group_12}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Readdy, William Francis}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Explorers Club]]
[[Category:20th-century American explorers]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Mir crew members]]