Former Astronaut Returns to Brevard County, Named Dean of Florida Tech College of Aeronautics
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology President Anthony J. Catanese has named Capt. (USN ret.) Winston E. Scott dean of the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics, effective Aug. 1. Scott, who will reside in Melbourne, has called Brevard County home in the past, as an astronaut and executive.
“We are honored to have Capt. Scott join us. His stature, experience, teaching gifts and administrative talents will greatly benefit the College of Aeronautics and immensely enrich the university,” said Catanese.
From 2003 to 2006 Scott was executive director of the Florida Space Authority, based at Kennedy Space Center. In this capacity he advised Florida’s governor and legislators on all matters related to space and aeronautics in the state. At that time he also was a part-time faculty member at Florida Tech, teaching aeronautics courses.
“We feel fortunate to have Capt. Scott back full time and in a leadership role,” said Florida Tech Provost T. Dwayne McCay. “This distinguished former astronaut’s scientific knowledge, technical skills and insights will be a great addition to the university.”
Since 2006, Scott has been vice president and deputy general manager of the engineering and science contract group of Jacobs Engineering in Houston, Texas.
His biography reads like an American Dream success story. He describes his life, from birth in Miami, Fla., to becoming an astronaut and beyond in his 2005 memoir, Reflections from Earth Orbit.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in music from Florida State University in 1972, Scott completed Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School and navy flight training, and was designated a naval aviator certified in piloting fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. After a tour of duty as a navy helicopter pilot in North Island, Calif., he was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, Calif., where he earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering with avionics. Following tactical jet training he was assigned as a fighter pilot to Fighter Squadron Eighty Four in Oceana, Va. flying the F-14 Tomcat fighter. He subsequently served as a test pilot at the Naval Aviation Depot at Jacksonville, Fla., flying the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. Scott accumulated more than 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft, and more than 200 shipboard landings.
Scott was selected by NASA for the Astronaut Corps in 1992. He served as a mission specialist on STS-72 in 1996 and on STS-87 in 1997. He logged more than 24 days in space, including three spacewalks.
He received honorary doctoral degrees from Florida Atlantic University in 1996 and Michigan State University in 2007. Among several affiliations with professional organizations, he is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Scott is a jazz trumpeter, who when on the Space Coast, joins in at local clubs. He also enjoys martial arts and holds a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate.
“I’m excited to be joining the Florida Tech family on a full-time basis. I could not ask for a better job than becoming a part of the great leadership team in place at the College of Aeronautics,” said Scott. He added, “Florida is home to me and my wife Marilyn and we are looking forward to returning.”
