DONALD E. WILLIAMS (CAPTAIN, USN, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

PERSONAL DATA: Born February 13, 1942, in Lafayette, Indiana. Died on February 

23, 2016. He is survived by his wife and two children. He enjoyed all sports activities 

and his interests included running and photography.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Otterbein High School, Otterbein, Indiana, in 1960; 

received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University 

in 1964.

ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Association of Space 

Explorers, and the National Aeronautic Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 

Defense Superior Service Medal, 2 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V, 2 Navy 

Unit Commendations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Medal, an 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA 

Exceptional Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 stars), a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross (with gold star), and the 

Vietnam Campaign Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Williams received his commission through the NROTC program at Purdue University. He completed flight 

training at Pensacola, Florida; Meridian, Mississippi; and Kingsville, Texas, receiving his wings in May 1966. After A-4 

training, he made two Vietnam deployments aboard the USS Enterprise with Attack Squadron 113. He served as a flight 

instructor in Attack Squadron 125 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, for 2 years and transitioned to A-7 aircraft. He 

made two additional Vietnam deployments aboard the USS Enterprise with CVW-14 staff and Attack Squadron 97. Williams 

completed a total of 330 combat missions.

In 1973, Williams attended the Armed Forces Staff college. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent 

River, Maryland, in June 1974, and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center’s Carrier Suitability Branch of Flight Test 

Division. From August 1976 to June 1977, following reorganization of the Naval Air Test Center, he was head of the Carrier 

Systems Branch, Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. He reported next for A-7 refresher training and was assigned to Attack 

Squadron 94 when selected by NASA.

He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time, which includes 5,700 hours in jets and 745 carrier landings.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in January 1978, Williams became an astronaut in August 1979, qualified for 

assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Since then he has had various support assignments, including 

working at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory as a test pilot, and at the Kennedy Space Center participating in Orbiter 

test, checkout, launch and landing operations. 

From September 1982 through July 1983, he was assigned as the Deputy Manager, Operations Integration, National Space 

Transportation System Program Office at the Johnson Space Center. From July 1985 through August 1986, Williams was the 

Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Operations Division at the Johnson Space Center, and from September 1986 through December 

1988, he served as Chief of the Mission Support Branch within the Astronaut Office. 

Twice flown, Williams served as pilot on STS-51D in 1985, and was the spacecraft commander on STS-34 in 1989. He 

logged a total of 287 hours and 35 minutes in space.

In March 1990, Williams retired from the U.S. Navy and left NASA. He was a Division Manager with Science Applications 

International Corporation, working on several projects in the Houston area, nationally, and internationally.

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

February 2016

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-51D Discovery (April 12-19, 1985) was launched from and returned to land at the 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida. During the mission, the crew deployed ANIK-C for Telesat of Canada, and Syncom IV-3 for 

the U.S. Navy. A malfunction in the Syncom spacecraft resulted in the first unscheduled EVA, rendezvous and proximity 

operations for the Space Shuttle in an attempt to activate the satellite. Additional, the crew also conducted several medical 

experiments, two student experiments, activated two Getaway Specials, and filmed experiments with toys in space. The 

mission was accomplished in 109 orbits of the Earth in 167 hours, 54 minutes.

STS-34 Atlantis (October 18-23, 1989) was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air 

Force Base, California. During the mission the crew successfully deployed the Galileo spacecraft, starting its journey to 

explore Jupiter, operated the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument (SSBUV) to map atmospheric ozone, and 

performed numerous secondary experiments involving radiation measurements, polymer morphology, lightning research, 

microgravity effects on plants, and a student experiment on ice crystal growth in space. The mission was accomplished in 79 

orbits of the Earth in 119 hours, 41 minutes.

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.