Frederick Gregory

About Frederick

• When he was young, he had to choose between racing boats and going into the Air Force-one was "instant gratification," one was an "investment."
• Chose the Air Force, thinks he made the right choice; it was something he'd always wanted to do, paid off in the long run.
• Was the first African American to pilot a space flight, later the first African American to command a space flight.
• Says he never planned his next step; he based choices off of emotion rather than intellect.
• "When it was no longer fun, I quit doing it"; moved 13 or 14 times during first eight years in the Air Force.
• He was a test pilot for five or six years, got bored, applied to the astronaut program, was an astronaut for years, got bored, left.
• Now he's in an administrative position and loves it; looks back and says he loves the things he's done and learned.
• Says "you can't sit back and wait for something to occur...you have to go out and do it yourself."