Jon McBride is a Captain U.S. Navy and a former NASA Astronaut (retired). He is currently Vice President of Strategic Development at Delaware North Companies, Parks and Resorts, Kennedy Space Center.
Captain McBride's naval service began in 1965 with flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After winning his wings as a naval aviator, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-4 "Phantom II" aircraft. He was subsequently assigned to Fighter Squadron 41 where he served 3 years as a fighter pilot and division officer. He has also served tours with Fighter Squadrons 11 and 103. While deployed to Southeast Asia, McBride flew 64 combat missions.
He attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base prior to reporting to Air Test and Development Squadron Four at Point Mugu, California, where he served as maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer. He flew over 40 different types of military and civilian aircraft and piloted the Navy "Spirit of '76" bicentennial-painted F-4J "Phantom in various air shows during 1976, 1977, and 1978. He holds current FAA ratings which include commercial pilot (multi-engine), instrument, and glider; and he previously served as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). He has logged more than 8,800 hours flying time--including 4,700 hours in jet aircraft.
Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, McBride became an astronaut in August 1979. His NASA assignments have included lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia; software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-5, STS-6, and STS-7; Flight Data File (FDF) Manager, and orbital rendezvous procedures development.
McBride was pilot of STS 41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on October 5, 1984, aboard the Orbiter Challenger. This was the first crew of seven. During their eight day mission, crew members deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, conducted scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3 pallet and Large Format Camera, and demonstrated potential satellite refueling with an EVA and associated hydrazine transfer.
In 1987 McBride was assigned to NASA Headquarters to serve as Assistant Administrator for Congressional Relations, with responsibility for NASA's relationship with Congress, and for providing coordination and direction to all Headquarters and Field Center communications with Congressional support organizations. In 1988 McBride was named to command the crew of the STS-35 (ASTRO-1) mission, scheduled for launch in March 1990.
In 1989, McBride retired from NASA and the Navy in order to pursue a business career. He is currently a member of the Kennedy Space Center Astronaut Encounter team, and does lecturing and corporate motivational presentations.
McBride received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and completed his graduate work in Human Resource Management at Pepperdine University. He has earned numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit (LOM); the Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM); 3 Air Medals; the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V; a Navy Unit Commendation; the National Defense Medal; the Vietnamese Service Medal; and the NASA Space Flight Medal. He is a recipient of West Virginia Secretary of State's "State Medallion" and appointed "West Virginia Ambassador of Good Will Among All Men." He received Honorary Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from Salem College; Honorary Doctorate of Science from West Virginia University; Honorary Doctorate of Science from University of Charleston; and Honorary Doctorate of Science from West Virginia Institute of Technology.