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Scott entered Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in 1973. He completed flight training and was designated a naval aviator in 1974. In 1980, Scott earned his Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering with Avionics. During his Navy career, Captain Scott served as a helicopter pilot with Helicopter Anti- Submarine Warfare Squadron Light Thirty- Three at NAS North Island, CA flying the SH-2F helicopter. He later served a tour of duty as a fighter pilot with Fighter Squadron Eighty Four at NAS Oceana, Virginia flying the F-14 Tomcat fighter/ interceptor. He subsequently served as a production test pilot and engineering director at the Naval Aviation Depot at NAS Jacksonville, FL. Additionally, Scott served as a research development test and evaluation (RDTE) pilot and Deputy Director of the Tactical Aircraft Systems Department at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Warminster, PA.
As a RDTE pilot, Scott flew the F-14 Tomcat, the F/A-18 Hornet and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. He has accumulated more than 8,000 hours of flight time in more than 25 different aircraft and more than 200 shipboard landings. Captain Scott was an associate instructor of electrical engineering at Florida A&M University and Florida Community College at Jacksonville. Captain Scott was selected to become an astronaut by NASA in 1992. Serving as a mission specialist he flew two space shuttle missions during which he logged over 24 days in space; including 3 spacewalks totaling over 19 hours. He has advised elected officials on matters related to space and aeronautics. Capt. Scott is professor emeritus at The Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. He holds the (retired) rank of professor of aeronautics in the college of aeronautics and professor of music in the college of psychology and liberal arts. Capt. Scott currently serves as Director of Operational Excellence at The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) in Titusville, FL. He oversees astronaut programming and appearances at the KSCVC. Capt. Scott belongs to the boards of directors of several corporate and non-profit organizations. He enjoys an active public appearance schedule. Captain Scott’s book Reflections from Earth Orbit was published in 2005.