A former astronaut is coming to Sierra Vista.
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McMonagle is currently the vice president of NASA programs at Raytheon Missile Systems, responsible for developing and delivering products for human and robotic exploration of space.
Prior to joining Raytheon, he was the director of business strategy and development and director of quality for Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Prior to his retirement, McMonagle had a career in the U.S. Air Force. After his pilot training in 1975, he flew F-4s on a one-year tour in South Korea. Upon his return from overseas, he spent two years at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., prior to being assigned to Luke Air Force Base as an F-15 instructor pilot. In 1981, he entered the Air Force’s Test Pilot School, and from 1982 to 1985, McMonagle was the operations officer and project test pilot for the advanced fighter technology integration F-16 aircraft.
McMonagle has more than 5,000 hours of flying experience.
He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in June 1987 and is a veteran of three space flights logging more than 600 hours in space. He was a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery (STS-39) in April 1991, the pilot of space shuttle Endeavour (STS-54) in January 1993, and mission commander of the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-66) in November 1994.
McMonagle’s accomplishments have earned him many notable awards, including the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Force Commendation Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Liethen-Tittle Award, three NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
The Sierra Vista Aero Association was informally established approximately seven years ago and formally established as a nonprofit organization two years ago. The organization’s mission is to:
• Promote the growth and interest in general aviation
• Promote the growth and improvements to the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport
• Serve as an ombudsman between the general aviation public, the Airport Commission, and the Sierra Vista City Council.
In 2006, SVAA held a candidates forum to help identify those City Council and mayoral candidates opinions on the importance of the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport.
The association played a role in the creation of the year long Airport Task Force that reported to the City Council in 2007.
The association is interested in working with other organizations to further increase the growth of the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport.
During the group’s annual dinner, a no-host cocktail hour will be at 6 p.m., with a buffet dinner at 7 p.m. Limited tickets are available for $30 each. Get tickets by calling Ron Kline at 378-3625 or George Pohlman at 458-0668.
BECOME A MEMBER
The Sierra Vista Aero Association is interested in increasing its membership and looking for previous pilots, current pilots, and non-pilots interested in general aviation. Membership is only $10 a year. Those interested in membership or just learning more about the organization can go to the group’s Web site at www.svaero.org
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