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Robert C. Springer
(Colonel, USMC, Ret.)
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Bob received a commission in the United States Marine Corps following graduation from Annapolis in 1964. He attended the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, before reporting to the Navy Air Training Command for flight training at Pensacola, Florida and Beeville, Texas.
Upon receiving his aviator wings in August 1966, he was assigned to VMFA-513 at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, where the flew F-4 aircraft. He was subsequently assigned to VMFA-115 at Chu Lai in the Republic of Vietnam, where he flew F-4s and completed 300 combat missions. In June of 1968, he served as an advisor to the Republic of Korea Military Corps in Vietnam and flew 250 combat missions in 01 “Bird Dogs” and UH1 “Huey” helicopters. Bob returned to the United States later in 1968 to attend the U. S. Naval postgraduate School in Monterey, California, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in March 1971. Bob also attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) while stationed at Beaufort, South Carolina.
A 1975 graduate of the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, he served as head of the Ordnance Systems Branch and was a Test Pilot for more than 20 different types of fixed and rotary-winged aircraft. In this capacity he performed the first flights in the AH1T helicopter. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia in 1978 and was assigned to Headquarters Fleet marine Force, Atlantic, where he assumed responsibility for Joint Operational Planning for Marine Forces in NATO and the Mid-East. He was serving as aide-de-camp/executive assistant for the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, when advised of his selection by NASA.
While serving in the United States Marine Corp, Bob received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2nd award), Navy Achievement Medal, NASA Space Flight Medal, Intelligence Achievement Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation and various Vietnam Campaign ribbons and service awards.
Selected as an Astronaut candidate by NASA in May of 1980, Bob became an Astronaut in August of 1981. His technical assignments have included support crew for STS-3, concept development studies for the Space Operations Center, and the coordination of various aspects of the final development of the remote Manipulator System for operational use as well as working in the Mission control Center as Orbit CAPCOM for 7 flights in 1984 and 1985.
Bob was responsible for astronaut office coordination of the Design Requirements Reviews (DRR) and Design Certification Reviews (DCR). These review efforts encompassed the total recertification and re-verification of the NSTS prior to STS-26 return to flight status.
Bob was a mission specialist on the crew of STS-29, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida aboard the Orbiter Discovery on Marcy 13, 1989. Bob also served as a mission specialist on STS-38. The five-man crew launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on November 15, 1990. During the five-day mission crewmembers conducted Department of Defense operations. In completing his second mission, Bob has logged over 237 hours in space.
Subsequent to his retirement from the United States Marine Corps and NASA, Bob was an executive with The Boeing Company until his retirement in 2007.
Bob is an active member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Marine Corps Aviation Association, and the United States Navel Academy Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Operations Research Society and the Military Operations Research Society. Bob was named one of the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Men in America in 1977. Bob has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Space is Special, a non-profit organization dedicated to using the hands on applications of the space program to educate children with learning disabilities. He has also served on the Brevard County School Board and is on the board of Keep Brevard Beautiful.
Bob is currently the President of Vector Consulting, specializing in aerospace consulting and motivational speaking. |
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