William Cameron "Willie" McCool (September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003), (Cmdr, USN), was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut, who was the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-107. He was killed, along with all others, when their spacecraft disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. He was the youngest male member of the crew.

Personal data

McCool was born September 23, 1961, in San Diego, California, and died on February 1, 2003, over the southern United States when Space Shuttle Columbia broke up during re-entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing. He was survived by his wife and their three sons. He enjoyed running, mountain biking, back country hiking/camping, swimming, playing guitar, and chess, and had a home in Anacortes, Washington, at the time of his death.

He was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he became an Eagle Scout. His favorite song was "Imagine" by John Lennon, which was played during the space mission. His favorite band was Radiohead, and the song "Fake Plastic Trees" was played by Mission Control as a wake-up call. McCool is buried in Anacortes, Washington.

Education

• 1979: Graduated from Coronado High School, Lubbock, Texas.
• 1983: Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science from the United States Naval Academy.
• 1985: Received a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park.
• 1992: Received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Flight experience

McCool completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1986. He was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, for initial EA-6B Prowler training. His first operational tour was with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133 (VAQ-133), where he made two deployments aboard the USS Coral Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and received designation as a wing-qualified Landing Signal Officer (LSO). In November 1989, he was selected for the Naval Postgraduate School/Test Pilot School (TPS) Cooperative Education Program.

After graduating from TPS in June 1992, he worked as a TA-4J and EA-6B test pilot in Flight Systems Department of Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. He was responsible for the management and conduct of a wide variety of projects, ranging from airframe fatigue life studies to numerous avionics upgrades. His primary efforts, however, were dedicated to flight test of the Advanced Capability (ADVCAP) EA-6B. Following his Patuxent River tour, McCool returned to Whidbey Island, and was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) aboard the USS Enterprise. He served as Administrative and Operations Officer with the squadron through their work-up cycle, receiving notice of his NASA selection while embarked on Enterprise for her final pre-deployment at sea period.

McCool accumulated over 2,800 hours flight experience in 24 aircraft and over 400 carrier arrestments.

NASA experience

Selected by NASA in April 1996, McCool reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. Initially assigned to the Computer Support Branch, McCool also served as Technical Assistant to the Director of Flight Crew Operations, and worked Shuttle cockpit upgrade issues for the Astronaut Office. He was the pilot on STS-107, logging 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.

STS-107 Columbia (January 16 to February 1, 2003). The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and research mission. Working 24 hours a day, in two alternating shifts, the crew successfully conducted approximately 80 experiments. The STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003, when Columbia and her crew perished during re-entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. All seven crew members were killed.

Organizations

• U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association

Awards

Posthumously awarded:

• the NASA Space Flight Medal
• the NASA Distinguished Service Medal
• the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM)
• the Congressional Space Medal of Honor[1]

Special honors

• Eagle Scout
• Served as team captain of the U.S. Naval Academy Cross Country team his senior year
• Graduated second of 1,083 in the Class of 1983 at the U.S. Naval Academy
• Presented “Outstanding Student” and “Best DT-II Thesis” awards as graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Class 101
• Awarded Navy Commendation Medal (2)
• Awarded Navy Achievement Medal (2)

Tributes

• Asteroid 51829 Williemccool was posthumously named for McCool.
• McCool Hill in the Columbia Hills on Mars was posthumously named for McCool.
• McCool Hall, in the Columbia Village apartments at the Florida Institute of Technology, is named after him.
• Guam South Elementary/Middle School, a DoDEA school in Santa Rita, Guam, was renamed CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School on August 29, 2003.
• Willie McCool Track and Field at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas, was posthumously named for McCool.
• Willie McCool Bronze Sculpture placed in the library at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas.
• Willie McCool Memorial was dedicated on Saturday, May 7, 2005, at Huneke Park at 82nd and Quaker Avenue in Lubbock, Texas.
• The William McCool Science Center, located on the campus of the Frank Lamping Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada, is a facility where elementary students throughout the Clark County School District have an opportunity to learn about space and other fields of science.
• A Gawad Kalinga village in Moncada, Tarlac, Philippines, will be named "USN Commander Willie McCool GK Village".
• In the Star Trek book Mirror Universe – Glass Empires, the shuttlecraft of the U.S.S. Defiant in the short story "Age of the Empress" is named the McCool.
• McCool Field at Officer Training Command-Newport, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island is named after him.
• The Willie McCool Monument was dedicated on December 2, 2007, at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course. The monument stands where Willie would have been 16 minutes from the finish line during his fastest race on Navy's home course.
• The Willie McCool Memorial Model Air Field park located in North Las Vegas, Nevada was posthumously named for McCool on October 23, 2004.
• McCool Hall, located on Tinker AFB, Oklahoma is a Navy Bachelors Enlisted Quarters named after McCool.
• Camp McCool, located in Bagram Airfield, is the home of rotating EA-6B Prowler Squadrons currently supporting ISAF in Afghanistan.
• The FAA named a Fix/Waypoint MCCUL near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (also near Anacortes, WA) located at 48 13.11N, 123 07.03W. Navy pilots are routinely vectored to the McCool waypoint.