Scott D. Altman
NASA Astronaut

Scott Altman has demonstrated courage and perseverance throughout his life. Growing up in Pekin, Illinois, he had one mission—to fly. But at 6 feet 4 inches, Altman found out he was too tall to become an Air Force Pilot. Despite this set back, Altman was determined. He joined the Navy, became a decorated pilot and was even asked to do flying stunts in the movie Top Gun. He then took his passion for science and flying to a new level. Altman is now an astronaut for NASA and has spent more than 51 days in space.

Altman credits his time as a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout for providing him with a solid foundation for his career—from flying an F-14 over Iraq to flying a space shuttle around the earth. Altman says that the values and teamwork he learned in Scouting have contributed greatly to his success.