AOH Veterans Report (March 2023)

National:

• National Zoom call postponed due to a family emergency in Danny’s family.

State: NSTR

History and Patriotism-Irish in the Military

Still looking for veterans inputs for stories to share.

• Eileen Marie Collins is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Air Force (USAF) colonel. A former flight instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission. A graduate of Corning Community College, where she earned an associate degree in mathematics in 1976, and Syracuse University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and economics in 1978, Collins was commissioned as an officer in the USAF through Syracuse’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
• Collins retired from the USAF in January 2005 with the rank of colonel. On 1 May 2006, NASA announced that she was leaving NASA to spend more time with her family and pursue other interests. She had flown 6,751 hours in thirty different types of aircraft and logged over 872 hours in space flights. This included four different Shuttle missions.
• After her retirement, Collins made occasional public appearances as an analyst covering Shuttle launches and landings for CNN. She was the commencement speaker at the 148th commencement of Syracuse University in May 2001.She addressed the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on 20 July 2016, leading to speculation that she might be appointed NASA administrator under Donald Trump.
• Awards and Decorations: As well as USAF Command Pilot (Astronaut) wings, Collins’ awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with an oak leaf cluster, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and four NASA Space Flight Medals. She received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 2001, the Free Spirit Award, National Space Trophy, and Adler Planetarium Women in Space Science Award in 2006, the Space Foundation Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in 2007, the Harmon Trophy in 2020, and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 2022.
• Collins was inducted into the National Women’s Hall Of Fame in 1995, the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009, the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame on 19 April 2013, and the Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas, on 6 May 2020. She was recognized by the Encyclopedia Britannica as one of 300 women who have changed the world.
• An astronomical observatory—the Eileen Collins Observatory run by Corning Community College—is named in hr honor, as is the main entrance boulevard to Syracuse Hancock International Airport. One of her graduate school alma maters, Webster University, awarded her an honorary Doctor of Science in 1996, and in 2021, she received Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award. University College Dublin of the National University of Ireland also conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree on her on 14 June 2006
• Why did I note COL ® Collins? Her parents were born in Co Cork so she is first generation Irish American. Second, she grew up not far from where I did in upstate NY. Third, she retired as a Colonel the same year that I did and we both attended Webster University for graduate school. However, she is much smarter than I…and more accomplished….