U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1972
• 1971 First Team Academic All-America®
Commander Bruce Melnick was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2013.
Whether soaring to new heights on the football field or into space as a decorated NASA astronaut, Commander Bruce Melnick achieved success and great distinction in service to his country and the United States Coast Guard Academy.
A two-year letterwinner on the gridiron for the Bears, Melnick earned Academic All-America® honors and helped lead Coast Guard to an 8-2 mark during his senior campaign of 1971, which equaled the school record for victories in a season. After graduating from the Academy with a degree in engineering in 1972, Melnick embarked on a 20-year career in the Coast Guard where his assignments included serving as operations office and chief test pilot in the Aircraft Program Office. He received numerous awards during that tenure, including two Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Secretary of Transportation Heroism Award.
Selected by NASA in June 1987, Melnick qualified for space flight and became an astronaut in August 1988. He performed subsequent technical assignments before flying as a mission specialist on the Shuttle Discovery from October 6-10, 1990 as well as the flight engineer on Shuttle Endeavour’s maiden voyage from May 7-16, 1992. He logged more than 300 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 207 times.
After retiring from the Coast Guard and leaving NASA in 1992, Melnick joined Lockheed Space Operations Company. In 1996, he joined McDonnell Douglas as Vice President for Payload Ground Operations Contract with NASA, and in 1997, when McDonnell Douglas merged with The Boeing Company, Melnick became Vice President of Boeing Florida Operations, serving in that role until his retirement in 2007.
Melnick earned his master’s degree in aeronautical systems in 1975 from the University of West Florida. West Florida then bestowed an honorary doctorate of science degree to Melnick in April 2001.
Born: New York, NY
High School: Clearwater High School
Occupation: Astronaut & US Coast Guard Officer