Bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering from the University of Texas, 1955; two honorary doctorates; Captain, USN, Ret; test pilot; unsuccessful application for NASA astronaut group 2; he was the fourth man to walk on the lunar surface; he retired from Navy in 1975, but continued as head of the Astronaut Candidate Operations and Training Group within the astronaut office in a civilian capacity; from 1978 - 1981 he was acting chief astronaut; he resigned from NASA on 26.02.1981 to devote his full time to painting.