NAME:  James Donald Halsell, Jr., (Major USAF)
       NASA Astronaut
 
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE:  Born September 29, 1956, in Monroe, Louisiana.
His parents, Don and Jean Halsell, reside in West Monroe, Louisiana.
 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Brown hair; brown eyes; 6 feet 2 inches; 175
pounds.
 
EDUCATION:  Graduated from West Monroe High School, West Monroe,
Louisiana, in 1974; received a bachelor of science degree in
Engineering from the USAF Academy in 1978, a master of science in
Management from Troy University in 1983, and a master of science in
Space Operations from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1985. 
 
MARITAL STATUS:  Single
 
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:  Enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, light
aircraft flying, running and exercising, racquetball, and scuba
diving.
 
ORGANIZATIONS:  Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
(SETP), and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(AIAA).
 
SPECIAL HONORS:  Graduated first in test pilot school class and
awarded the Liethen/Tittle Trophy for the Best Overall Record for
Flying and Academic Performance (1986).
 
EXPERIENCE:  Halsell graduated from the USAF Academy in 1978, and from
Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, in 1979.
Assigned to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1980-1981, he served
as an F-4D aircraft commander, qualified in conventional and nuclear
weapons deliveries.  From 1981-1984, he was stationed at Moody AFB,
Valdosta, Georgia, where he served as squadron flight lead, instructor
pilot, strike package commander, and Chief of the Squadron
Standardization/Evaluation Branch.  He was qualified in all F-4E
air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnances and tactics, including nuclear
and electro-optical weapons.  From 1984-1985 he was a graduate student
at the Air Force Institute of Technology and stationed at
Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.  His thesis, sponsored by JSC Crew
Systems Division, prototyped a space rescue transfer vehicle using
off-the-shelf equipment.  Halsell computer-stimulated the flying
qualities and performance of the vehicle, and proposed EVA techniques
for its use.  In 1986 he attended the USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards
AFB, California.  Assigned as an F-4 test pilot, he served as project
manager and prime pilot for stability and control tests which
determined the degradation to flying qualities caused by fuel movement
in an externally mounted tank.  As an F-16 test pilot, his primary
project was the new Block 40 F-16 C/D, which integrated digital flight
controls, infrared television, terrain following radar, and a global
positioning satellite receiver.  He was an SR-71 test pilot when
selected for the astronaut program.  In this capacity, his projects
included improved engine inlet control logic, an enhanced
center-of-gravity control system, and a new synthetic aperture radar.
 
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Halsell became an Astronaut in July
1991.  He is qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space
Shuttle flight crews, and is currently assigned as a Capsule
Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Astronaut Office Mission Support Branch.
 
AUGUST 1991