Award Year
2000
Graduation Year
1988
Department
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Award Category
Council of Outstanding Early Career Engineers
Biography
After completing an MS in Aviation Systems at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1988, Bill began a career as a Naval Aviator. He has served on the USS Nimitz and attended the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN. He graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School in 1995 and was assigned to Strike Aircraft Test Squadron as an F/A-18 Project Officer and Test Pilot, subsequently becoming an instructor at the school. He has logged over 2000 flight hours in more than 50 aircraft and has over 200 carrier arrested landings. In 1998, Bill was selected by NASA for the astronaut program. Lieutenant Oefelein has received many honors including the Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Degrees
- B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1988