Winston Scott

Winston Elliott “Win” Scott is a distinguished retired United States Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut, renowned for his significant contributions to space exploration. Selected by NASA in April 1992, Scott served as a mission specialist on two notable spaceflights: STS-72 in 1996 and STS-87 in 1997. During these missions, he logged an impressive total of 24 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes in space, which included three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 26 minutes. His work on STS-72 involved the retrieval of the Space Flyer Unit satellite and the deployment of the OAST-Flyer satellite, showcasing his expertise in complex space operations.

Before his illustrious career at NASA, Scott had a robust military background as a Naval Aviator. He completed flight training in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, earning his designation as a Naval Aviator in 1974. His service included a four-year tour with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 33, where he honed his skills flying the SH-2F helicopter. Scott later transitioned to fighter aircraft, flying the F-14 Tomcat and accumulating over 5,000 flight hours across 20 different military and civilian aircraft.

After retiring from NASA and the Navy in 1999, Scott took on leadership roles in academia and industry. He became Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University, where he had previously earned his degrees. He also served as Executive Director of the Florida Space Authority, where he played a pivotal role in shaping Florida’s space policies and initiatives, advocating for the consolidation of state space organizations into what is now known as Space Florida.

Scott’s commitment to education continued as he served as the dean of the College of Aeronautics and senior vice president for External Relations and Economic Development at the Florida Institute of Technology. Currently semi-retired, he remains active as a senior advisor to the university’s president, contributing his extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation of aerospace professionals.