Congressional Record: Tribute to Commander Pamela Melroy
IN RECOGNITION OF COMMANDER PAMELA MELROY — (Extensions of Remarks – December 05, 2007)
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES T. WALSH OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007
Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and Mr. Kuhl of New York to recognize Pamela Melroy; Commander of the Space Shuttle Discovery Mission STS-120.
Ms. Melroy has become just the second female shuttle commander in NASA’s history. Despite NASA being comprised of approximately 19 percent women, there are currently no other female pilot-astronauts within the agency, which makes it probable that Commander Melroy may also be the last woman to command a space shuttle before the program ends in 2010.
As a member of a military family, Melroy spent her childhood living in many towns, but considers Rochester, NY, her hometown. She graduated from Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester and earned her bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College. Melroy continued her education and received her masters of science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Commander Melroy served in the United States Air Force from 1983 until 2007. During her career in the Air Force, she flew combat missions in Iraq, and eventually graduated from the Air Force’s exclusive test-pilot school. Over the span of her 24-year career, she logged 5,000 hours of flight time in 45 different aircrafts.
Pamela Melroy began her astronaut career in 1994 when she was selected as a candidate by NASA. Prior to her becoming Commander of Discovery, Melroy worked on a number of projects and took on a number of roles within NASA. She served on the Columbia Reconstruction Team, as deputy project manager for a crew survival investigation team, and as a pilot on two space shuttle missions.
Pamela Melroy became the second female space shuttle commander on October 23, 2007 when mission STS-120 launched. This delivered the Harmony module to the International Space Station in order to prepare the station for future missions. Melroy follows in the footsteps of fellow Upstate New York native Eileen Collins, who was the first female space shuttle commander.
Throughout her career Commander Melroy has served as a valuable co-worker and leader and is highly respected by those who work with her. Her contributions to her country as a member of the Air Force and as an astronaut are invaluable. Inspired by Apollo missions when she was younger, Melroy herself serves as an inspiration by showing how far women have come in the space program.
Representative Kuhl and I thank Pamela Melroy for her dedication and service to her country as a member of the Air Force and as an astronaut and congratulate her on a successful career thus far. She has and will continue to be a true leader and an excellent role model for young people today.
