Learning Center Our Enshrinees

William Alison Anders

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Born: October 17, 1933 in the British Hong Kong
Enshrined: 2004

Commissioned into the Air Force as a fighter pilot in all-weather interceptor squadrons of the Air Defense Command. There, he took part in early intercepts of the Soviet bombers that were testing America’s air defense capabilities.

Technical manager of radiation shielding and space nuclear power projects at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory.

Selected to join the third group of astronauts in 1963 and was capcom for Gemini 8 and backup pilot for Gemini 11.

Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 8 (even though there was no lunar module) which was the first  mission to take humans to the moon and back.

Backup Command Module pilot for Apollo 11.

Appointed to serve as Executive Secretary of the Aeronautics and Space Council, the Atomic Energy Commission, named the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and then later served as U.S. Ambassador to Norway.

Chairman and CEO of General Dynamics Corporation.