Donald R . McMonagle Donald Ray McMonagle ( born May 14 , 1952 ) ( Retired Colonel , USAF ) became the Manager , Launch Integration , at the Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on August 15 , 1997 . In this capacity he is responsible for final Shuttle preparation , launch execution , and return of the orbiter to KSC following landings at any location other than KSC . He is chair of the Mission Management Team , and is the final authority for launch decision . Early years . McMonagle was born in Flint , Michigan , and graduated from Hamady High School , Flint , Michigan , in 1970 . McMonagle received a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1974 , a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University - Fresno in 1985 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2003 . Military career . McMonagle completed pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base ( AFB ) , Mississippi , in 1975 . After F - 4 training at Homestead AFB , Florida , he went on a 1 - year tour of duty as an F - 4 pilot at Kunsan Air Base , South Korea . He returned from overseas to Holloman AFB , New Mexico , in 1977 . In 1979 , McMonagle was assigned to Luke AFB , Arizona , as an F - 15 instructor pilot . In 1981 , he entered the USAF Test Pilot Schoo l at Edwards AFB , California , and was the outstanding graduate in his class . From 1982 to 1985 , McMonagle was the operations officer and a project test pilot for the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration F - 16 aircraft . After attending the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB , Alabama , from 1985 to 1986 , he was assigned as the operations officer of the 6513th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB . McMonagle has over 5 , 000 hours of flying experience in a variety of aircraft , primarily the T - 38 , F - 4 , F - 15 , and F - 16 . Astronaut . McMonagle was selected as an astronaut by NASA in June 1987 . A veteran of three space flights , McMonagle has logged over 605 hours in space . McMonagle flew as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on Department of Defense mission STS - 39 in April 1991 . During this highly successful 8 - day mission , the seven - man crew deployed , operated , and retrieved a remotely - controlled spacecraft and conducted several science experiments to include research of both natural and induced phenomena in the Earth ' s atmosphere . In January 1993 , McMonagle served as pilot on STS - 54 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour . The 6 - day mission featured the deployment of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite ( TDRS ) , and the collection of information about celestial x - rays using a Diffuse X - Ray Spectrometer . McMonagle commanded a crew of six aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS - 66 Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science - 3 ( ATLAS - 3 ) 11 - day mission in November 1994 . In January 1996 McMonagle was assigned the task to establish a new Extra - Vehicular Activity ( EVA ) Project Office responsible for managing all NASA resources associated with space suits and tools used to conduct space walks in support of Space Shuttle and the International Space Station . This role included responsibility for developing and implementing a plan for research and development of next generation space suits to support future human space exploration . Honors . McMonagle ' s accomplishments have earned him many notable awards . He has received the Air Medal , Meritorious Service Medal , three Air Force Commendation Medal s , the Defense Meritorious Service Medal , the Distinguished Flying Cross , the Liethen - Tittle Award ( Top Graduate from USAF Test Pilot School ) , three NASA Space Flight Medal s , the NASA Exceptional Service Medal , and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal . McMonagle is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots ; Association of Graduates , U . S . Air Force Academy ; and Association of Space Explorers . Later years . McMonagle is married to the former Janyce Morton of Phoenix , Arizona . They have two children and reside in Tucson , Arizona . Source : As of 19 June 2006 , he was named as the Vice - President of Quality and Mission Effectiveness of the Missile Systems business unit of Raytheon , located in Tucson Arizona .