On This Day in 2002: Frederick Gregory Becomes NASA’s First Black Deputy Administrator
(AURN News) — On this day, Aug. 12, 2002, Frederick D. Gregory was sworn in as NASA’s first Black Deputy Administrator. Born in Washington, D.C., Gregory began his career as a military pilot before joining NASA’s astronaut corps in 1978. He flew three space shuttle missions and became the first Black astronaut to command a […] The post On This Day in 2002: Frederick Gregory Becomes NASA’s First Black Deputy Administrator appeared first on American Urban Radio Networks.
Black News 
(AURN News) — On this day, Aug. 12, 2002, Frederick D. Gregory was sworn in as NASA’s first Black Deputy Administrator.
Born in Washington, D.C., Gregory began his career as a military pilot before joining NASA’s astronaut corps in 1978.
He flew three space shuttle missions and became the first Black astronaut to command a space shuttle mission in 1989.
Gregory later moved into leadership roles at NASA, serving as Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance and Associate Administrator for Space Flight.
In 2002, President George W. Bush nominated him to become NASA’s Deputy Administrator, and the Senate confirmed him.
Gregory served in that position until 2005.
That year, he became NASA’s Acting Administrator, making him the first Black person to lead the agency.
Gregory’s career included work as a pilot, astronaut and NASA official, marking several milestones for Black representation in the U.S. space program.
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The post On This Day in 2002: Frederick Gregory Becomes NASA’s First Black Deputy Administrator appeared first on American Urban Radio Networks.
