NAME:  Michael Richard "Rich" Clifford (Lieutenant Colonel, USA)
       NASA Astronaut
 
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE:  Born October 13, 1952 in San Bernadino,
California, but considers Ogden, Utah, to be his hometown.  His
parents, Gordon and Lenore Clifford, reside in Ogden.
 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Black hair; brown eyes; 5 feet 10 inches; 170
pounds.
 
EDUCATION:  Graduated from Ben Lomond High School, Ogden, Utah in
1970; received a bachelor of science degree from the United States
Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1974, and a master of
science degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of
Technology in 1982.
 
MARITAL STATUS:  Married to the former Nancy Elizabeth Brunson of
Darlington, South Carolina.  Her parents, R. Ben and Mary Lee Brunson,
reside in Darlington.
 
CHILDREN:  Richard Benjamin, March 14, 1980; Brandon Brunson, May 19,
1983.
 
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:  He enjoys flying, golf, tennis, water and
snow skiing, baseball, and coaching youth sports.
 
ORGANIZATIONS:  Member of Phi Kappa Phi, American Helicopter Society,
Army Aviation Association, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association.
 
SPECIAL HONORS:  Recipient of the Army Commendation Medal.
Distinguished Graduate of the United States Army Aviation School.
 
EXPERIENCE:  Clifford graduated from West Point in June 1974 and was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  He served a
tour with the 10th Cavalry in Fort Carson, Colorado.  He then entered
the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1976.  He was the top graduate of his
flight class and was designated an Army Aviator in October 1976.  He
was subsequently assigned for three years as a service platoon
commander with the Attack Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in
Nuremberg, West Germany.  After completing a master of science degree
at Georgia Tech in 1982, he was assigned to the Department of
Mechanics at West Point as an instructor and assistant professor.  In
December 1986 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and
was designated an Experimental Test Pilot.
 
A Master Army Aviator, he has logged 2,700 flying hours in a wide
variety of fixed and rotary winged aircraft.
 
NASA EXPERIENCE:  Clifford, as a military officer, was assigned to the
NASA Johnson Space Center in July of 1987.  As a Space Shuttle Vehicle
Integration Engineer, his duties involved engineering liaison for
launch and landing operations of the Space Shuttle Program.  He was
involved in design certification and integration of the Shuttle Crew
Escape System, and was an executive board member of the Solid Rocket
Booster Post Flight Assessment Team.  Selected by NASA in January
1990, Clifford became an Astronaut in July 1991.  Since April 1991, he
has worked in the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office.
He participates in the design, development, and evaluation of Space
Shuttle payloads and crew equipment that have Extravehicular Activity
(EVA) interfaces.
 
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:  Clifford is assigned as a mission specialist on
the crew of STS-53, a Department of Defense mission, scheduled for
launch in late 1992.
 
MAY 1992