Nothing else symbolizes intelligence, courage, endurance and triumph quite like…an astronaut. Here is one for your consideration.

This guy grew up on the west side of Philadelphia, the son of a teacher and an engineer. He was an Eagle Scout, and graduated from Overbrook High School. He went to Penn State and earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 1964. With the country at war, he went to pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, learned to fly F-4’s, and was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, from which he flew 144 missions, 65 of which were over North Vietnam. He then came back to Sheppard Air Force Base, taught younger pilots how to fly T-38’s, and attended Squadron Officer School. After that, he entered the Air Force Institute of Technology, earned an M.S. and then a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, with a minor in Laser Physics. (He would also add an MBA a decade later.) He was a development engineer at the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, served as deputy of its Aeromechanics Division, later was branch chief of the Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch, and published several papers on fluid dynamics along the way.

In 1978, he was one of only 35 candidates chosen from over 10,000 applicants to enter NASA’s astronaut program. In 1983, he flew on his first mission, aboard space shuttle Challenger flight STS-8. He described it as a ride in a high-speed elevator through a bonfire. He helped launch the Indian National Satellite and conducted zero-gravity medical experiments. In 1985, he went up again on Challenger flight STS-61-A, which delivered materials to Skylab and set the record for the largest crew (8) to stay aboard a shuttle for the entire duration of its flight. In 1991, he went again, this time aboard Discovery flight STS-39, which conducted round-the-clock experiments and observations. And finally, in 1993, he headed to space for the fourth time, aboard Discovery flight STS-53, about which flight we know very little except that it launched “Payload 1,” a satellite for the Defense Department, whose function is classified.

Upon leaving NASA, he became a VP/General Manager of a hardware/software company. Then a VP of the Aerospace Division of Federal Data Corporation. Then VP of Microgravity R&D at Northrop Grumman. And finally President of consultancy Aerospace Technology.

This is one remarkable man. His list of awards and decorations is ridiculous. His four space flights and 688 hours spent in space place him among the top of all astronauts. He is in the International Space Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame. And – certainly a matter of great pride to him – he was Grand Master of Penn State’s Homecoming Parade in 2006.

Even his name is impressive. He is Colonel Guion S. Bluford, Jr., PhD.

And there’s one last thing of note: he is African American.

Which gives him one last achievement to add to his remarkable resume.

Guy Bluford: Eagle Scout. Academic. Pilot. Officer. Teacher. Scientist. Doctor. Engineer. Astronaut. Executive.

And the first African American to go into space.