21 Facts About Jon McBride

Jon Andrew McBride was an American naval officer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator for NASA.

Jon McBride had achieved the rank of captain when he retired in 1989.

Jon McBride was an astronaut with NASA, a role in which he piloted STS-41-G, and would have been commander of STS-61-E had the mission not been canceled as the next scheduled launch in the wake of the Challenger disaster.

Jon McBride was born on August 14,1943, in Charleston, West Virginia.

Jon McBride did graduate work in Human Resource Management at Pepperdine University.

At West Virginia University, Jon McBride became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Jon McBride was married to the former Brenda Lou Stewart in 1966.

Jon McBride was assigned to Fighter Squadron 41 where he served three years as a fighter pilot and division officer.

Jon McBride attended the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California before reporting to Air Test and Development Squadron Four at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California, where he served as a maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer.

Jon McBride 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.

Jon McBride held Federal Aviation Administration ratings which included civilian commercial pilot certificate, instrument, and glider, and he previously served as a certified flight instructor.

Jon McBride was the pilot of STS-41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on October 5,1984, aboard the Orbiter Challenger.

Jon McBride was scheduled to fly again in March 1986 as the commander of STS-61-E.

On July 30,1987, Jon McBride was assigned to NASA Headquarters to serve as assistant administrator for Congressional Relations, with responsibility for NASA's relationship with the United States Congress, and for providing coordination and direction to all headquarters and field center communications with congressional support organizations.

Jon McBride held this post from September 1987 through March 1989.

In 1988, Jon McBride was named to command the crew of the STS-35 mission, scheduled for launch in March 1990, but chose to retire from NASA instead.

In May 1989, Jon McBride retired from NASA and the US Navy to pursue a business career.

Jon McBride moved to Lewisburg, West Virginia, where he became president and chief executive officer of the Flying Eagle Corporation, a venture capital firm, and president of the Constructors' Labor Council of West Virginia, a group representing heavy and highway construction contractors.

Jon McBride had proposed to assist in the development of a landing sequence for the ride.

Jon McBride remained active supporting the "Lunch with an Astronaut" program at Kennedy Space Center until 2020 when he announced his retirement from duty at the visitors complex.

Jon McBride died on August 7,2024, at the age of 80, just a week before his 81st birthday.