Encyclopedia Astronautica
Odle


iodlandy.jpg
Odle
Credit: www.spacefacts.de - www.spacefacts.de
Odle, Randy Thomas (1951-) American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1982-1986.

Grew up in the Groves, Texas. Educated Lamar; Louisiana Tech.

BIOGRAPHY

PERSONAL:
Randy Odle was born on September 8, 1951 in Port Arthur, Texas, the first child of Billy and Gladys Odle. He grew up in the neighbouring town of Groves, Texas and has two sisters and a brother. He is married to the former Jo Ann Price.

EDUCATION:
Odle graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1969. He then earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, followed by a Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech.

AWARDS:
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Achievement Medal; the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award; and several other service ribbons.

EXPERIENCE:
Odle entered the Air Force by direct commission into the Biomedical Science Corps in 1976. In 1982 he was selected as a Manned Spaceflight Engineer and was scheduled to fly aboard shuttle mission STS-62A. The mission was cancelled after the Challenger explosion.

Following the astronaut assignment Odle was assigned as Chief, Systems Integration Division, Headquarters Space Division, at Los Angeles Air Force Base. After attending the Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base, where he worked on several projects, including service as Argus Program Manager; Chief, Flight Test Branch, Phillips Laboratory; Chief, Navigation Satellite Systems Division, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center.

Colonel Odle's next assignment was as Chief, Assessments Branch, US Nuclear Command and Control Systems Support Staff, at the Pentagon. He graduated from the Air War College and in June 1997 was assigned as the Commander, Detachment 2, Space and Missile Systems Center, at Onizuka Air Force Base, California.

Source: Onizuka Orbiter, June 20, 1997

Birth Place: Port Arthur, Texas.
Status: Inactive.


Born: 1951.09.08.

More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
See also
Associated Flights
  • STS-62-A Crew: Crippen, Gardner Guy, Mullane, Ross, Gardner, Aldridge, Watterson. Planned Department of Defense shuttle mission. Cancelled after Challenger disaster. Would have been first launch from the ill-fated SLC-6 launch site at Vandenberg, California. Backup crew: Odle. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
  • USAF American agency overseeing development of rockets and spacecraft. United States Air Force, USA. More...

Odle Chronology
1982 September 1 - .
  • DoD Astronaut Training Group 2 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Armor; Booen; Holder; James; Jones, Charles; LaComb; Mantz; Odle; Pailes; Puz; Roberts; Sponable; Thompson, David; Yeakel. The group was selected to provide shuttle manned spaceflight engineers to operate military payloads.. Qualifications: USAF officers with bachelor's degree in science or engineering; four years experience in flying or space-related activities. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. 14 were selected from 63 candidates.
1986 July - .
Home - Browse - Contact
© / Conditions for Use