Don left on his last flight on February 23, 2016. Born February 13, 1942, in Layfayette, Ind. He graduated from Otterbein High School, Otterbein, Ind. In 1960. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1964. He received his commission through the NROTC program at Purdue University. He completed flight training at Pensacola, FL, Meridian, MS and Kingsville TX receiving his wings in May 1966.
After A-4 training, he made two Vietnam deployments aboard the USS ENTERPRISE with Attack Squadron 113. He served as a flight instructor in Attack Squadron 125 at Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California, for 2 years and transitioned to A-7 aircraft. He made two additional Vietnam deployments aboard the USS ENTERPRISE with CVW-14 staff (CAG LSO) and Attack Squadron 97. He completed a total of 330 combat missions. In 1973, he attended the Armed Forces Staff college. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, in June 1974 and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center’s Carrier Suitability Branch of Flight Test Division.
From August 1976 to June 1977, following reorganization of the Naval Air Test Center, he was head of the Carrier Systems Branch, Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. He reported next for A-7 refresher training and was assigned to Attack Squadron 94 when selected by NASA. He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time, which includes 5,700 hours in jets and 745 carrier landings.
Selected by NASA in January 1978, he became an astronaut in August 1979, qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Since then he had various support assignments, including working at the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory as a test pilot, and at the Kennedy Space Center participating in Orbiter test, checkout, launch and landing operations. From September 1982 through July 1983, he was assigned as the Deputy Manager, Operations Integration, National Space Transportation System Program Office at the Johnson Space Center. From July 1985 through August 1986, Don was the Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Operations Division at the Johnson Space Center, and from September 1986 through December 1988, he served as Chief of the Mission Support Branch within the Astronaut Office.
Don served as pilot on STS-51D Discovery (April 12-19, 1985) in 1985, and was the spacecraft commander on STS-34 Atlantis 1989. He has logged a total of 287 hours and 35 minutes in space.
STS-51D Discovery (April 12-19, 1985) was launched from and returned to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. During the mission, the crew deployed ANIK-C for Telesat of Canada and Syncom IV-3 for the U.S. Navy. A malfunction in the Syncom spacecraft resulted in the first unscheduled EVA, rendezvous and proximity operations for the Space Shuttle in an attempt to active the satellite. Additionally, the crew also conducted several medical experiments, two student experiments, activated two Getaway Specials, and filmed experiments with toys in space. The mission was accomplished in 109 orbits of the earth in l67 hours, 54 minutes.
STS-34 Atlantis (October 18-23, 1989) was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the mission the crew successfully deployed the Galileo spacecraft, starting its journey to explore Jupiter, operated the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument (SSBUV) to map atmospheric ozone, and performed numerous secondary experiemtns involving radiation measurements, polymer morphology, lightning research, microgravity effects on plants, and a student experiment on ice crystal growth in space. The mission was accomplished in 79 orbits of the earth in 119 hours, 41 minutes.
In March 1990, Don retired from the U.S. Navy and left NASA to join SAIC as one of the first major hires of the Space, Earth and Aviation Sciences (SEAS) Group. Don came on board as the Manager of SAIC Houston Operations and led that organization through its first major contract win in 1997 at the NASA Johnson Space Center - Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. He subsequently played a significant role in several SAIC contract bid efforts including the US Geological Survey EROS Data Center and The National Oceanographic and Atmosphere Administration National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) in Stenis, Mississippi. In 1999 Don was bid as the NDBC Program Manager and played a substantial role in the proposal , oral presentations and staffing that won this five year engineering and manufacturing support services contract with over 100 engineers and technicians. Don led the NDBC contract team for 3 years before returning to a marketing and business development role at SAIC. He continued to aid in the growth of the SEAS Group until his retirement in 2007.
Upon retirement, Don moved to Sun City Anthem in 2007 where he was active in many of the activities. His main activity was participation in the Veterans Club where he served on the Board and was honored by being named Vice President Emeritus. He is survived by his wife, Ann Kelsay Small-Williams, brother Steve (Karen Kendall), his son, Jonathan Williams (Dana), his daughter, Barbara Corso (Steve), step-son, Kenneth Small; grandchildren, Alexander and Sebastian Williams, Caroline, John and Lauren Corso; and five step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his first wife, Linda Jo Williams (nee Grubaugh) to whom he was married for 35 years. He also leaves his faithful companion and rescue Scottish Terrier, Fergus, who watched over him until Don flew West.
In lieu of flowers and if you so desire, please direct donations to: Tailhook Educational Foundation, Inc., c/o Marc "Tag" Ostertag, 9696 Businesspark Ave., San Diego CA 92131-1643 for scholarships for Navy children, or Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Mail Code: ASF-1, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 for scholarship for math and science scholars. A Memorial will be held on March 26, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Delaware Room at Sun City Anthem, Anthem Center, 2450 Hampton Road, Henderson NV 89052. Telephone: 702-614-5800.
