Our Honoree The 2023 Recipient of the Global Citizen Award
Col. David R. ScottCommand Module Pilot on Apollo 9 & Commander of Apollo 15
Col. Scott was a Gemini astronaut, flew two Apollo space missions, was the Commander of the Apollo 15 and the very first man to ever drive on the moon in the famous lunar rover. Col. Scott is one of only 12 humans to ever walk on the moon.
JU Community Involvement
- Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science and Technology degree from JU in 2013
- Met and spoke with Aviation students at a luncheon in 2014
- Gave Matriculation address in 2015 to the Class of 2019
- Recognized in 2022 with the Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award of Excellence
David R. Scott flew on Gemini VIII, was Command Module pilot on Apollo 9, and drove the first Lunar Rover on the moon as Commander of Apollo 15.
Scott was born on June 6, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Western High School in Washington, D.C., and in 1954 received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, standing fifth in a class of 633. He then entered the Air Force and later graduated from the Experimental Test Pilot School and Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In 1962, Scott received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics/Astronautics Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. NASA selected David Scott as an astronaut in 1963.
On March 16, 1966, Pilot David Scott and Commander pilot Neil Armstrong entered space aboard Gemini VIII. Scott next entered space as the Command Module pilot for Apollo 9, launched on March 3, 1969, and was the first test of a complete set of Apollo hardware. Scott’s third space mission, Apollo 15 was launched on July 26, 1971. They explored the lunar surface while Alfred M. Worden orbited in the Command Module Endeavor. This was the first extended scientific expedition to the moon and the first use of the Lunar Rover, a specially designed electric car.
During his three flights, David Scott logged 546 hours and 54 minutes in space, of which twenty hours and 46 minutes were in EVAs. He is only one of three Astronauts who has flown both earth orbital and lunar Apollo Missions.
Colonel Scott left NASA on October 30, 1977. During his career, he earned two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, two Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force Association’s David C. Schilling Trophy and the Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1971.
Read more about Col. Scott at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.