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RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY, UNITED STATES NAVY PERSONAL DATA: Born in Mobile, Alabama. She enjoys competitive sailing, snow skiing, scuba diving, and fishing. EDUCATION: Graduated from Murphy High School, Mobile, Alabama, in 1977. Bachelor of science degree in engineering and management from the U.S. Naval Academy, 1981. Master of science degree in space technology from Florida Institute of Technology, 1991. ORGANIZATIONS: Association of Naval Aviation, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Institute of Navigation, Society of Women Engineers, U.S. Sailing Association. SPECIAL HONORS: Defense Superior Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service ribbon, Space Coast Society of Women Engineers Distinguished New Woman Engineer for 1993. EXPERIENCE: After earning her Naval Flight Officer Wings in October 1982, Hire conducted worldwide airborne oceanographic research missions with Oceanographic Development Squadron Eight (VXN-8) based at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. She flew as Oceanographic Project Coordinator, Mission Commander and Detachment Officer-in-Charge on board the specially configured P-3 aircraft. Hire instructed student naval flight officers in the classroom, simulator, and on board the T-43 aircraft at the Naval Air Training Unit on Mather Air Force Base, California. She progressed from Navigation Instructor through Course Manager to Curriculum Manager and was awarded the Air Force Master of Flying Instruction. In January 1989, Hire joined the Naval Air Reserve at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Her tours of duty included Squadron Augment Unit VP-0545 and Anti-submarine Warfare Operations Center 0574 and 0374. Hire became the first female in the United States assigned to a combat aircrew when she reported to Patrol Squadron Sixty-Two (VP-62) on May 13, 1993. As a Patrol Plane Navigator/Communicator she deployed to Iceland, Puerto Rico and Panama. Hire later served with CV-63 USS Kittyhawk 0482, Tactical Support Center 0682, Commander Seventh Fleet Detachment 111, and U.S.Naval Central Command Detachment 108. NASA EXPERIENCE: Hire began work at the Kennedy Space Center in May 1989, first as an Orbiter Processing Facility 3 Activation Engineer and later as a Space Shuttle Orbiter Mechanical Systems Engineer for Lockheed Space Operations Company. In 1991 she certified as a Space Shuttle Test Project Engineer (TPE) and headed the checkout of the Extravehicular Mobility Units (spacesuits) and Russian Orbiter Docking System. She was assigned Supervisor of Space Shuttle Orbiter Mechanisms and Launch Pad Swing Arms in 1994. Selected by NASA in December 1994, Hire reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. After a year of training, she worked in mission control as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM). Hire flew as Mission Specialist-2 on STS-90 Neurolab (April 17 to May 3, 1998). During the 16-day Spacelab flight the seven member crew aboard Space Shuttle Columbia served as both experiment subjects and operators for 26 life science experiments focusing on the effects of microgravity on the brain and nervous system. The STS-90 flight orbited the Earth 256 times, covered 6.3 million miles, and logged over 381 hours in space. Hire currently serves as the Astronaut Office Lead for Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), Shuttle Payloads, and Flight Crew Equipment. Hire has been recalled to active duty in the United States Navy. |
Astronaut Photos and Biographies-
Courtesy of NASA
Lucky Bag Photos- Courtesy of USNA Archives