posted 11-24-2004 08:23 AM               

NASA Remembers Mission Control Veteran Don Puddy

The NASA Family is remembering Donald R. Puddy, a Mission Control veteran who led flight controllers from Apollo to the first Space Shuttle landing.

Above: Puddy at the flight directors console during a training session just weeks before the launch of Columbia on the first Space Shuttle mission in 1981.

Puddy, whose 31-year career with NASA included 22 years as a key leader of human space flights at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), died Nov. 22, 2004 in Houston following a lengthy illness. He was 67.

Puddy joined NASA in 1964 and went on to become the agency's 10th flight director, calling the shots from the Mission Control console once occupied by NASA legends like Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz.

"Don's leadership as a flight director was critical during our transition from Apollo through the early Space Shuttle flights," said Milt Heflin, Chief of the JSC Flight Director Office. "His diverse talents allowed him to serve NASA and the country in many capacities."

He led teams during the history-making Apollo Program, as well as the three long-duration Skylab missions in 1973 and 1974. Puddy also was a flight director during the Apollo-Soyuz Test project in 1975. That mission joined a Russian and U.S. crew in orbit, and helped pave the way for the international cooperation that would lead to the Shuttle-Mir program and the International Space Station.

Puddy was also in the flight director's chair on the afternoon of April 14, 1981 when the Space Shuttle Columbia touched down at Edwards Air Force Base in California, bringing a successful close to the first Shuttle mission, STS-1.

Following his work in Mission Control, Puddy held other leadership roles at JSC, NASA's Ames Research Center in California, and Headquarters in Washington. He was responsible for creating and managing many project and aircraft safety procedures, and -- folowing up on his work with Apollo-Soyuz -- was instrumental in early joint collaboration between the U.S. and Russian space programs.

Puddy's contributions to the space program were recognized by numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.

A native of Oklahoma, Puddy was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in 2002.

"I had the honor of presenting Don at his induction into the Hall of Fame," said Heflin. "We are from the same part of Oklahoma, and I felt especially privileged to pay tribute to him that day. He was my friend and my mentor, providing me guidance and encouragement to meet the challenges of working in Mission Control."

Flags over the Mission Control Center at JSC were flown at half staff to honor Puddy's memory.

Puddy is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 48 years, Dana. He also is survived by their three sons, Mike, Doug and Glenn, and six grandchildren.

posted 11-25-2004 11:31 AM               

Donald Ray Puddy, 67, died at home on November 22, 2004 after a brief illness with cancer. He was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma on May 31, 1937 to Mildred and Lester Puddy. He is survived by his wife, Dana, of 48 years, his son, Michael and wife Kathyrn, son Douglas and wife Cheryl, son Glenn and wife Stacy, sister, Carol Keathly and six grandchildren, Randy Blum, Breann Puddy, Dana Marie Puddy, Lauren Puddy, Haley Puddy and Hannah Puddy.

Don served in leadership positions in high school, was awarded a four-year scholarship from Conoco Oil Company and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served a tour of duty in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base where he was involved in rocket high-altitude research. In 1964 he came to Houston to begin a thirty-one year career with NASA.

During Gemini IX, the preparatory program for lunar missions, he served as an Agena systems engineer traveling to the remote tracking site Canarvon, Australia. During Apollo XI landing on the moon, Don was responsible for monitoring the systems of the Lunar Module. In 1972, Don was named a Flight Director for Apollo 16, served as Flight Director for Skylab, the Approach and Landing Test flights, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and as entry Flight Director for the first two shuttle orbital flights — STS-1 and STS-2.

During this period, he also received an M.B.A. degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He later moved into senior management duties and served for a brief time as Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Following the tragic Challenger accident, he was assigned to NASA Headquarters and in 1987, President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the Meritorious Executive award for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of U.S. government programs.

In preparation for shuttle flights to resume, Don assumed the position of Director of Flight Crew Operations where he was responsible for the management and direction of flight crews, selection of new astronaut candidates, and the Shuttle Program aircraft operations. During this time, he attended the Harvard International Advanced Management Program and was again detailed to Washington, D.C. He concluded his career at JSC as a special assistant responsible for developing joint activities for the U.S./Russian space programs. serving as the U.S. co-chairman of the Crew Exchange Working Group for the Phase 1 Joint U.S./Russian Program.

Don was the recipient of numerous awards during his government service — including five Exceptional Service medals, the Medal of Freedom for Apollo XIII and an Outstanding Leadership Medal for STS-26.

Following his retirement in 1995, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, organizing reunions of the Apollo systems groups, and especially spending time with his six grandchildren, whom he adored. He was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in September of 2002.

Family visitation will be held at James Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, on Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5-7 p.m. with a funeral service at Seabrook Methodist Church, located at Hwy. 146 and NASA RD. 1 at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Interment will be in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Don and the family. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 570127, Houston, Texas 77257-0127 or the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, Mail Code: AMF, Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899.