NASA Experience
Selected by NASA in January 1978, Williams became an astronaut in August 1979, qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Since then he has had various support assignments, including working at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) as a test pilot, and at the Kennedy Space Center participating in Orbiter test, checkout, launch and landing operations.
From September 1982 through July 1983, he was assigned as the Deputy Manager, Operations Integration, National Space Transportation System Program Office at the Johnson Space Center. From July 1985 through August 1986, Williams was the Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Operations Division at the Johnson Space Center, and from September 1986 through December 1988, he served as Chief of the Mission Support Branch within the Astronaut Office.
Williams served as pilot on STS-51-D in 1985, and was the spacecraft commander on STS-34 in 1989.
In March 1990, Williams retired from the U.S. Navy and left NASA. He is currently a Division Manager with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), working on several projects in the Houston area, nationally, and internationally.
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