William E (Bill) Gary

PROGRAMS:

Apollo ProgramInternational Space Station Program

COMPANIES:

LOCATIONS:

Kennedy Space Center, FL

COMMENTS:

William E. (Bill) Gary, is a native of Philadelphia, MS. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School as senior class president and class valedictorian. He later attended and graduated from Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN., earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He completed further studies in Computer Resources and Information Management at Webster University, Space Coast Campus, Merritt Island, FL. He began employment with NASA at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL as a Co-Operative Education engineering student. Upon graduation, he accepted a full time position as an electrical control systems engineer. His engineering experience included positions as lead electrical engineer, lead facilities design engineer, facility manger and senior logistics engineer in the Design Engineering and International Space Station Directorate. He served a year long detail at NASA HQs in Washington, D.C. gaining experience in Construction of Facilities Budgeting, Space Shuttle Program Operations and the Space Station Japanese Operations Office. He retired in 2008 after a 40-year career with the U. S. Space Agency. Bill has been involved in many community and civic activities, including; former member and President, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Brevard (now Central Florida) Board of Directors; former member and Chairman, Florida Local Advocacy Council-Florida Department of Children and Families/District 7B(Brevard County); former member, Florida Today Newspaper Multicultural Advisory Committee; former member, St. James AME Male Usher Board; former Stewart, St. James AME Church, Member and former President, Iota Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Member, Progressive Action Society of Titusville; former member, Brevard County Affordable Housing Task Force; former tutor, University of Central Florida Society of Black Engineers Tutorial Program; former member Colonial High School (Orlando) Compact Program Advisory Committee; former member, Brevard County Personnel Council; former member, City of Titusville’s Racial Justice Task Force; former volunteer, Guardian Ad Litem Program-18th. Judicial Circuit Court of Florida (Brevard/Seminole Counties); founding member, Eastern Florida State College (Brevard Community College)-NAACP Community Partnership and former Co-Chair, Moore Heritage Festival of the Arts and Humanities. Currently he Chairs the Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc. Healthy Living Festival and Heritage Freedom 5K Run/Walk, He is Immediate Past President and current 1st. Vice-President of the North Brevard County Branch NAACP & NAACP Life Member. He is currently President, Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc. Board of Directors; former member of the Board of Directors of Greater Titusville Renaissance and a member of the Harry T. Moore Social Service Center Coalition. He has received numerous awards including the prestigious Space Coast Hall of Fame Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2016 and the 2019 Florida Historical Society’s Dorothy Dodd Lifetime Achievement Award.