  terence thomas "tom" henricks (born july 5, 1952) is a retired colonel in the united states air force and a former nasa astronaut. he served on four space shuttle missions. ==personal life and education== henricks was born on july 5, 1952 in bryan, ohio to terry and martha henricks, but considers woodville, ohio to be his hometown. he graduated from woodmore high school in 1970. he received his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the united states air force academy in 1974 and his master of public administration degree from golden gate university in 1982. he is married and has three children. ==special honors== *the distinguished flying cross *the nasa outstanding leadership medal *the defense superior service medal *the defense meritorious service medal *air force meritorious service medals (2) *air force commendation medals (2) *nasa space flight medals (4) *honorary doctor of science degree from defiance college (1993) *f-4 fighter weapons school outstanding flying award *named pilot training distinguished graduate and f-16 conversion course top gun *inducted into the ohio veterans hall of fame ==military and flight experience== henricks completed pilot training at craig air force base (afb) in selma, alabama, and f-4 phantom ii conversion training at homestead afb in miami, florida. he then flew the f-4 in fighter squadrons in england and iceland. in 1980, he was reassigned to nellis afb, las vegas, nevada. after attending the usaf test pilot school in 1983, he remained at edwards afb, california, as an f-16c test pilot and chief of the 57th fighter weapons wing operating location until his nasa selection. he has 749 parachute jumps and a master parachutist rating. he has flown 30 different types of aircraft, has logged over 6,000 hours flying time, and holds an faa commercial pilot rating. ==nasa experience== selected by nasa in june 1985, henricks became an astronaut in july 1986. his technical assignments to date include: re-evaluating shuttle landing sites world wide; assistant manager for engineering inte
1952_births American_astronauts Defiance_College_alumni Golden_Gate_University_alumni Living_people People_from_Williams_County,_Ohio Recipients_of_the_Defense_Superior_Service_Medal Recipients_of_the_Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States) U.S._Air_Force_Test_Pilot_School_alumni United_States_Air_Force_Academy_alumni United_States_Air_Force_astronauts United_States_Air_Force_officers