Degree(s): Aerospace Engineering, MBA

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Undergraduate Institution: Penn State

Graduate Institution: U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Houston-Clear Lake

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Photo Credit: NASA

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Col. Guion Bluford, Jr. is a U.S. Air Force pilot and fighter, aerospace engineer, and astronaut. In 1983, he became the first Black and the second person of African descent in space as a mission specialist aboard the Challenger. Following his retirement from NASA, Col. Bluford worked in the engineering private sector. Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards for his professional accomplishments, including induction into the International Space Hall of Fame and U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

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Fun Fact: The Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West in Baltimore, MD is an all-boys middle/high school named after him, Dr. Charles Drew, and Dr. Mae Jemison.

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