Virginia Hall of Fame Spotlight: David M Brown

NASA Astronaut David M. Brown
Soon after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Brown received his Private Pilot License during the summer of 1978. He continued his education, studying medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and after receiving his doctorate, he enlisted in the US Navy as a flight surgeon in 1984. While serving the US Navy as a flight surgeon, he was selected to join the NASA astronaut training program. After two years of rigorous training, he was assigned to STS-107 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Sadly, STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during re-entry, just sixteen minutes before scheduled landing. He logged over 2,700 flying hours, and 15 days, 22 hours, and 20 minutes in space.
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NASA ASTRONAUT DAVID M. BROWN
Arlington, Virginia
Inducted 2003
Inducted in 2003, David M. Brown received his Bachelor of Science in biology from the College of William and Mary in 1978 and earned his private pilot license at the Williamsburg Airport in the summer of 1978. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School and enlisted in the US Navy as Flight Surgeon in 1984. In 1988, he was selected to attend the US Navy flight-training program.
After receiving his gold Naval aviator wings in 1990, he flew the A-6E, FA 18 and T-38 while continuing to serve as a flight surgeon. While assigned as a flight surgeon to the US Navy Test Pilot School, he was selected to join the NASA astronaut-training program. In 1996, he reported to Johnson Space Center for training as a Mission Specialist. For two years he went through rigorous academic and hands-on training. He was then assigned to STS-107 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. On January 16, 2002, Brown and his fellow astronauts blasted off and orbited the earth for the next sixteen days conducting research and scientific experiments.
Unfortunately, STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during re-entry sixteen minutes before scheduled landing. Captain Brown was the International Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots’ president in 1996 and the Navy’s Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year in 1986. He logged over 2,700 flying hours, and 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.
The Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame was created to commemorate and preserve outstanding aviation contributions made in Virginia or by Virginians. Many individual efforts have resulted in the pioneering, growth, or development of aviation and aerospace and must be recorded for future generations. Each year, the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society Board of Directors selects one or more individuals for recognition and induction into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.
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