List of United States Military Academy alumni (astronauts)

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is an undergraduate college in West Point, New York that educates and commissions officers for the United States Army. The Academy was founded in 1802 and graduated its first class in October of the same year. It is the oldest of the five American service academies. Sports media refer to the Academy as "Army" and the students as "cadets"; this usage is officially endorsed.[1] A few graduates each year are given the option of entering theA small number of graduates each year choose the option of entering the United States Air Force, United States Navy, or United States Marine Corps. Before the founding of the United States Air Force Academy in 1955, 25% of the Academy's graduates were commissioned as Air Force officers. Most cadets are admitted through the congressional appointment system.[2][3] The curriculum emphasizes various fields in sciences and engineering.[4][5]

Eighteen graduates of the Military Academy were eventually selected for astronaut training by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The first alumnus to graduate and go on to become an astronaut was Frank Borman, class of 1950. As of March 2009, the most recent alumnus to become an astronaut was Robert S. Kimbrough, class of 1989. Five alumni were part of Project Gemini, six part of the Apollo program, two have walked on the moon, and twelve were part of the Space Shuttle program.

In addition to the 18 graduates who have become astronauts, other notable graduates include 2 American Presidents, 4 additional heads of state, 74 Medal of Honor recipients,[6] 70 Rhodes Scholars,[7] and 3 Heisman Trophy winners. Among American universities, the academy is fourth on the list of total winners for Rhodes Scholarships, seventh for Marshall Scholarships and fourth for Hertz Fellowships.[8]

Contents

Astronauts

Note: "Class year" refers to the alumni's class year, which usually is the same year they graduated. However, in times of war, classes often graduate early.
Name Class year Notability References
Borman, FrankFrank Borman 1950 Commanded Gemini 7 and Apollo 8; first to orbit moon and to see far side of the moon [9][10]
Aldrin, BuzzBuzz Aldrin 1951 Pilot of Gemini 12 and Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11; 2nd person to walk on the moon [11][12]
Collins, MichaelMichael Collins 1952 Pilot of Gemini 10 and Command Module Pilot on Apollo 11 [13][14]
White, Edward H.Edward H. White 1952 Pilot of Gemini 4, died in the Apollo 1 fire; first American to perform a spacewalk; buried at West Point [12][15]
Scott, DavidDavid Scott 1954 Pilot of Gemini 8, Command Module Pilot of Apollo 9, and Commander of Apollo 15; walked on the moon [12][16]
Peterson, Donald H.Donald H. Peterson 1955 Mission Specialist on STS-6 [17][18]
Worden, AlfredAlfred Worden 1955 Command Module Pilot of Apollo 15 [18][19]
Mullane, Richard M.Richard M. Mullane 1967 Mission Specialist on STS-41-D, STS-27, and STS-36 [12][20]
Spring, Sherwood C.Sherwood C. Spring 1967 Mission Specialist on STS-61-B [12][21]
Adamson, James C.James C. Adamson 1969 Mission Specialist on STS-28 and STS-43 [12][22]
McArthur, William S.William S. McArthur 1973 Mission Specialist on STS-58, STS-74, and STS-92; commanded International Space Station Expedition 12 [12][23]
Clifford, Michael R.Michael R. Clifford 1974 Mission Specialist on STS-53, STS-59, and STS-76 [12][24]
Gemar, Charles D.Charles D. Gemar 1979 Mission Specialist on STS-38, STS-48, and STS-62 [18][25]
Forrester, Patrick G.Patrick G. Forrester 1979 Mission Specialist on STS-105, STS-117, and STS-128 [12][26]
Williams, Jeffrey N.Jeffrey N. Williams 1980 Mission Specialist on STS-101; Flight Engineer of ISS Expeditions 13 and 21, Commander of Expedition 22 [12][27]
Wheelock, Douglas H.Douglas H. Wheelock 1983 Mission Specialist on STS-120; Flight Engineer of ISS Expedition 24 and Commander of Expedition 25 [28][29]
Kopra, Timothy L.Timothy L. Kopra 1985 Flight Engineer of International Space Station Expeditions 19 and 20 [12][30]
Kimbrough, Robert S.Robert S. Kimbrough 1989 Mission Specialist on STS-126 [31][32]

References

General

^ a:  Special Collections: Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy Library. 1950. 

Inline citations
  1. ^ "Quick Facts". United States Military Academy (USMA). http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&KEY=&ATCLID=323967. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
  2. ^ "FAQ: Who Attends the US Military Academy". USMA Office of Admissions. http://admissions.usma.edu/FAQs/faqs_wp.cfm. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  3. ^ "Overview of the Academy". USMA Office of Admissions. http://admissions.usma.edu/overview.cfm. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  4. ^ "College Navigator - United States Military Academy". National Center for Education Statistics, United States Department of Education. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=united+states+military+academy&s=all&id=197036. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  5. ^ "Academic Catalog: "The Redbook"". USMA Office of the Dean. 2008-09-10. http://www.dean.usma.edu/sebpublic/curriccat/static/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-21. 
  6. ^ "Medal of Honor Citations". Army Center of Military History. http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html. Retrieved 2010-01-27. 
  7. ^ "Notable USMA Graduates". USMA. http://www.usma.edu/bicentennial/history/NotableGrads.asp. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  8. ^ "Scholarship Winners". USMA Office of the Dean. http://www.dean.usma.edu/Scholarships/. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 
  9. ^ "Frank Borman". National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). December 1993. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/borman-f.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  10. ^ Borman, Frank; Serling, Robert J. (October 1988). Countdown: An Autobiography. Silver Arrow. p. 13. ISBN 0-688-07929-6. 
  11. ^ "Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D. (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)". NASA. January 1996. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/aldrin-b.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Astronauts and the BSA". Boy Scouts of America. http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx. Retrieved 2006-03-20. 
  13. ^ "Michael Collins (Brigadier General, USAF, Ret.)". NASA. December 1994. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/collins-m.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  14. ^ Collins, Michael; Charles Lindbergh (2001). Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys. Cooper Square Press. pp. 8–14. ISBN 0-8154-1028-X. 
  15. ^ "Edward H. White, II (Lieutenant Colonel)". NASA. December 1997. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/white-eh.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  16. ^ "David R. Scott (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)". NASA. December 1975. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/scott-dr.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  17. ^ "Donald H. Peterson (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)". NASA. May 1994. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/peterson-dh.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  18. ^ a b c "Graduates and Former Cadets". USMA. http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1989/46256/GRADS.HTM. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  19. ^ "Alfred Merrill Worden". NASA. December 1993. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/worden-am.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  20. ^ "Richard M. Mullane (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)". NASA. January 1996. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mullane-rm.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  21. ^ "Sherwood C. (Woody) Spring (Colonel, USA, Ret.)". NASA. December 1994. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/spring-sc.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  22. ^ "James C. Adamson (Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.)". NASA. October 2002. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/adamson-jc.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  23. ^ "William Surles "Bill" McArthur, Jr., (Colonel, USA, Ret.)". NASA. March 2007. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mcarthur.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  24. ^ "Michael Richard "Rich" Clifford (Lieutenant Colonel, USA)". NASA. January 1997. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/clifford.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  25. ^ "Charles D. (nickname Sam) Gemar (Lieutenant Colonel, USA)". NASA. March 1997. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gemar.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  26. ^ "Patrick G. Forrester (Colonel, USA, Ret.)". NASA. July 2008. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/forreste.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  27. ^ "Jeffrey N. Williams (Colonel, USA, Ret.)". NASA. January 2009. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/williamsj.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  28. ^ "Douglas H. Wheelock (Colonel, USA)". NASA. February 2009. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/wheelock.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  29. ^ Schwartz, John (2008-07-20). "Murcer’s Jersey Made a Journey to Outer Space". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/sports/baseball/20murcer.html. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  30. ^ "Timothy L. Kopra (Colonel, USA)". NASA. March 2008. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kopra-tl.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  31. ^ "Robert S. Kimbrough (Lieutenant Colonel, USA)". NASA. December 2008. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kimbrough-rs.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 
  32. ^ "Tech Alumnus Selected for NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2004". Georgia Institute of Technology. 2004-05-07. http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=256. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 

External links
Leadership


Components and
commands
Army Commands
Service Components
Direct Reporting Units
Field Armies

First · Second · Third · Fifth · Sixth · Seventh · Eighth
Branches
Installations
Training
Basic Training · BOLC · OCS · WOBC · WOCS · West Point · MOS
Uniforms and insignia
Equipment
History and traditions
Category · Portal
Federal service academies
Undergraduate
Post-graduate
Senior military colleges
Public
Private
Junior military colleges
Public
Private
United States staff colleges