- B. Alvin Drew
Infobox Astronaut
name = Benjamin Alvin Drew
type =NASA Astronaut
status = Active
nationality = American
date_birth = birth date and age|1962|11|5
place_birth =Washington, DC
occupation =Command Pilot
rank =Colonel , USAF
selection = 2000 NASA Group
time = 12d 17h 53m
mission =STS-118
insignia = |Colonel Benjamin Alvin Drew (born 1962) is aUnited States Air Force officer and aNASA astronaut . He flew onSpace Shuttle missionSTS-118 to theInternational Space Station . [cite web | url = http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-118/index.html | title = STS-118 mission summary | publisher = NASA]Personal
Drew was born in 1962 in
Washington, DC . After graduating from St. Anthony Catholic School in 1977 for his elementary education, he graduated fromGonzaga College High School in Washington, DC, and went on to earn a dual bachelor of science degree in physics and astronautical engineering from theUnited States Air Force Academy in 1984 and a Master of Science in Aerospace Science fromEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University .Military career
Drew received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1984. He completed Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training at
Fort Rucker , Alabama in 1985. His initial assignment was to theHH-3E flying combat rescue. He transitioned to theMH-60G and was assigned to theAir Force Special Operations Command . There, he flew combat missions in operations Just Cause,Desert Shield ,Desert Storm andOperation Provide Comfort . He completed USAF Fixed-Wing Qualification in 1993, and the United States Naval Test Pilot School in June 1994. He has commanded two flight test units and served onAir Combat Command staff. He is a Command Pilot with 3000 hours flying time in over 30 types of aircraft.NASA career
Selected as a mission specialist by NASA in July 2000, Drew reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch. He served in technical assignments until he took a sabbatical to the U.S. Air Force’s Air University at
Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama, attending a Master’s Degree program at theirAir War College . WhenClayton Anderson was moved toSTS-117 Al was selected for the available position onSTS-118 . [ He currently works has CAPCOM officer in Mission Control for the Mission ofSTS-123 cite web | url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5088 | title = Rookie Drew added to STS-118 crew | publisher = NASA SpaceFlight.com]Awards and honors
Drew's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster;
Air Medal ;Aerial Achievement Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters;Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters;Air Force Achievement Medal ;Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters;Combat Readiness Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters;National Defense Service Medal ;Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ; and theSouthwest Asia Service Medal with 3 service stars.References
External links
* [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/drew-ba.html NASA bio]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/drew_alvin.htm Spacefacts biography of B. Alvin Drew]
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