Steven R. Nagel

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Steven R. Nagel : biography

October 27, 1946 –

Organizations

Life member of the Order of Daedalians and Alpha Delta Phi; and honorary member of Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Tau, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Gamma Tau.

Special honors

Awarded the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters; and for Undergraduate Pilot Training, recipient of the Commander’s Trophy, the Flying Trophy, the Academic Trophy, and the Orville Wright Achievement Award (Order of Daedalians); also presented the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (1978).

Recipient of 4 NASA Space Flight Medals, (1985, 1991, 1993), NASA Exceptional Service Medals (1988, 1989), NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1992), AAS Flight Achievement Award, STS-37 Crew (1992), Outstanding Alumni Award, University of Illinois (1992), NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1994), Distinguished Alumni Award, California State University, Fresno (1994), Lincoln Laureate, State of Illinois (1994).

Personal data

Born October 27, 1946, in Canton, Illinois. Married to fellow astronaut Linda M. Godwin of Jackson, Missouri. Two daughters. His hobbies include sport flying and music. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan R. Nagel, reside in Canton, Illinois. Her father, Mr. James M. Godwin, resides in Oak Ridge, Missouri.

Experience

Nagel received his commission in 1969 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program at the University of Illinois. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, in February 1970, and subsequently reported to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for F-100 training.

From October 1970 to July 1971, Nagel was an F-100 pilot with the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. He served a 1-year tour of duty as a T-28 instructor for the Laotian Air Force at Udon RTAFB, Udon Thani, Thailand, prior to returning to the United States in October 1972 to assume A-7D instructor pilot and flight examiner duties at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. Nagel attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, from February 1975 to December 1975. In January 1976, he was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron located at Edwards. As a test pilot, he has worked on various projects which included flying the F-4 and A-7D.

He has logged 9,400 hours flying time—6,650 hours in jet aircraft.