Purdue Space Day 2025
Welcomes our VIP Astronaut!
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Roy D. Bridges, Jr. (Major General, USAF, RET.)
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Roy retired from Northrop Grumman on January 31, 2019. Prior to his retirement he was Northrop Grumman Technology Services’ Director responsible for DOE business. Previously Roy was the Vice President for Operations for National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), which was the company managing and operating the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. NSTec was a Northrop Grumman Technology Services (NGTS) managed Joint Venture. Roy was seconded to the company and remained a NGTS employee. NSTec had annual sales of over $450 million annually and a workforce of over 2000. Prior to that assignment Roy led the Mission Solutions Business Unit. He provided management direction and oversight of contracts for customers in the DOD, DOE, DHS, and NASA. Project locations included Huntsville AL; San Bernardino and Seaside CA; Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Lakeside CO; Panama City FL; Baltimore, Lanham and Princess Anne MD; Las Vegas NV; Layton UT; NASA Langley Research Center; and many others. Roy led a workforce of over 1000 people and was responsible for profit and loss of this $300 million business unit. He also had a role on the Board of Managers for NSTec. Roy’s board responsibilities included being the chair of the Parent Organization Oversight Committee, which was the expert technical staff for the board.
Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in February 2006, Roy served as the Center Director of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton VA, where he directed aeronautical and space research programs. Prior to that position, he was the Center Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center FL, where he was responsible for NASA’s Space Shuttle and International Space Station launch processing and operations as well as the acquisition and launch of NASA’s expendable launch vehicle missions.
Bridges is a retired U.S. Air Force Major General. Prior to his last USAF assignment at Wright-Patterson AFB OH as the Air Force Materiel Command Director of Requirements, he was the Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base CA. In prior assignments, he also served as the Commander, Eastern Space and Missile Center, Patrick AFB FL, and Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB CA.
As a NASA Astronaut, he piloted the Space Shuttle Challenger on the 8-day Space Lab 2 mission in July 1985.
As a pilot, test pilot and astronaut, he flew 4460 hours in a variety of aircraft including the following: F-100, F-104, YA/A-10, A-37, OV-99 (space shuttle Challenger), C-11, F-15, T-37, T-33, and T-38.
Bridges is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs CO, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Science. He received a Master of Science Degree in Astronautics from Purdue University IN, in 1966 and, in May 2001, he received an honorary Doctorate of Engineering Degree from Purdue. He was a distinguished Graduate of USAF Pilot Training and top graduate of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School. He was inducted to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. He was honored by the Florida Institute of Technology with an honorary Doctorate of Science Degree.
He has received numerous awards and honors. Most recently, he was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Previously, he was awarded the National Nuclear Security Administration’s top honor, the Administrator’s Distinguished Service Gold Award. He was awarded NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award, the Northrop Grumman Award for Excellence and many military honors including the following: Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He authored a book about his life titled, An Improbable Astronaut, how a Georgia farm boy wound up flying the space shuttle.
Source: Roy Bridges, Jr.