Richard H. Truly (Vice Admiral, USN, Ret.) was born in Fayette, Ms. on Nov. 12, 1937.

He attended schools in Fayette and Meridian, Ms. and received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

He was a member of the Astronaut support crew and capsule communicator for all three of the manned Skylab missions and the Apollo-Soyuz mission. Truly left NASA to become the first commander of the Naval Space Command, in Dahlgren, Virginia. He served as NASA Administrator from February 1986-1992.

His special honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Two Legion of Merit, Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Meritorious Service award. NASA awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals. He is also the recipient of the Air Force Association’s David C. Shilling Award, Society of Experimental Test Pilot’s Ivan C. Kincheloe Award, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Haley Space Flight Award, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Harmon International Trophy, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Gold Space Medal, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and the Medal of Honor of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.