• Apollo 11 Support Crew & Capcom
• Apollo 13 Backup Lunar Module Pilot
• Apollo 16 Lunar Module Pilot
• Apollo 17 Backup Lunar Module Pilot
• Space Shuttle Operations
• Brigadier General USAF (Ret)
• Businessman & Entrepreneur

"As an American, it was my honor to serve my country by going to the moon aboard Apollo 16 and becoming the 10th man to walk on the lunar surface. We can all share in the accomplishments of the Apollo program, just as we shared that special moment when on July 20, 1969, we watched the televised pictures of the Commander of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, as he took his “...giant leap for mankind.” ON THE MOON *"

In 1972, Apollo 16 astronaut, Charlie Duke, became the tenth man to walk on the moon. Duke, along with astronaut John Young, performed the Apollo mission with an enthusiasm and humor that entranced their vast TV audience. He has been delighting audiences ever since.

Gifted with the combined abilities of storytelling and challenging others, Duke is in demand worldwide as a keynote and motivational speaker.

Here is a man who has set goals and attained them. Duke is motivated, dedicated, and honorable. He is a man who not only entertains, but encourages and inspires others to reach their goals and beyond.

http://www.charlieduke.net/about_charlie.htm





            

 

Charles M. Duke, Jr.

The tenth man to walk on the moon, Charles M. "Charlie" Duke, Jr. never dreamed he would be a member of such an elite group of Americans when he was growing up in South Carolina. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina on 3 October 1935, Duke was the 1953 valedictorian at the Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1957. Accepting a commission in the Air Force, Duke went on to become a distinguished pilot training graduate when he earned his wings at Webb AFB, Texas in May 1959. He then became a fighter pilot, flying F-86s with the 526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany.

In June 1962, Duke left operational flying to pursue his goal of becoming a test pilot. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics, writing a thesis on the Apollo guidance system. Graduating from the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California in July 1965, he remained in the desert as an instructor, teaching flight control systems and flying F-101s, F-104s, and T-33s. Selected by NASA for astronaut training in April 1966, Duke served as a member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 10 flight in May 1969, and as a backup lunar module pilot for the Apollo 13 and 17 flights. In March 1971, he was selected to be a member of the Apollo 16 crew, along with astronauts John W. Young and Thomas K. Mattingly 11.

As the lunar module pilot, Duke spent over 2000 hours in the simulator, preparing for the mission. After a near perfect launch on 16 April 1972, Duke and Young began their record-setting stay of 71 hours and 14 minutes on the lunar surface by maneuvering the lunar module, Orion, to a landing on the rough Cayley Plains on 20 April. Apollo 16 was the first scientific expedition to inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features in the Descartes region of the rugged lunar highlands. Apollo 16 concluded with a perfect Pacific Ocean splashdown and subsequent recovery by the USS Ticonderoga after 265 hours and 51 minutes in space.

In December 1975, Duke resigned his regular commission, joined the Air Force Reserve, and became a staff engineer for Air Force Systems Command and mobilization augmentee to the Commander, USAF Basic Military Training Center and to the Commander, USAF Recruiting Service. He was promoted to brigadier general in December 1979 and retired in June 1986. In a career spanning 29 years, he logged over 4000 hours, 3600 of which were in jet aircraft. Duke was also Chairman of Texcor Industries, Inc.; Director, Young Astronaut Council; and Chairman, Duke Resources, Inc.

(USAF Air University- Gathering of Eagles)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Duke