Washington, D.C
Washington, DC’s Renowned Astronaut, Col. Frederick D. Gregory
Frederick Drew Gregory, is the first astronaut born, reared, and educated in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, which is also home to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. He is a veteran of three space shuttle missions and the first African American to pilot and command a mission in space. He is also the first African American to rise to the second-highest NASA leadership position, Deputy Administrator.
Gregory’s story is generationally entwined with the history of the District of Columbia (DC). In an era of profound racism and segregation, Gregory’s family were respected members of Washington’s influential Black community. When he was born in 1941, members of his family already were making history, and Gregory followed suit in his own time.
NASA portrait of Frederick Gregory.
Gregory’s uncle, Dr. Charles R. Drew, became famous for his medical research and innovation during World War II. His father, Francis Anderson Gregory, was locally prominent as assistant superintendent of DC Public Schools for many years and served as the first Black president of the Public Library’s Board of Trustees; the branch library in the Fort Davis neighborhood where the Gregory family lived is named in his honor. His mother, Nora Drew Gregory, a graduate of Dunbar High School, had a thirty-year career as a teacher in Washington’s elementary schools and led the library board after her husband. Her niece—Gregory’s cousin—Charlene Drew Jarvis served on the DC Council for more than two decades.
Gregory remembers his father taking him to Andrews Air Force Base for air shows and car races when he was a child; that was his earliest exposure to aviation. He also knew several Tuskegee Airmen who were friends of his father and often visited the Gregory’s home, when he was too young to understand their historical significance but enjoyed their tales of flying. As a teenager, he made the connection between flying and the military and decided he wanted to be an aeronautical engineer and military aviator.
Gregory’s life became illustrious after he graduated from Anacostia High School—Washington’s schools were not yet integrated, but Gregory was active in an integrated Boy Scout troop. Nominated by civil rights activist and member of Congress Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Gregory attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he was the only Black cadet in his class and one of very few African Americans at the academy. He graduated with distinction and a degree in military engineering in 1964 and was commissioned as an officer into the Air Force.
When Gregory joined the Air Force, he first flew helicopters and then fighter aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom. He served in Vietnam, where he flew 550 combat rescue missions, and returned to enter the Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent, Maryland. While serving as an engineering and research test pilot for both the Air Force and NASA, he earned a master’s degree in information systems from George Washington University, in his hometown. During his career, he logged 7,000 hours in more than 50 aircraft.
In 1978, NASA introduced Gregory as a pilot among the first new astronauts—the “TFNG” or “thirty-five new guys”—selected for the space shuttle era. His astronaut class included two more African Americans, scientists Guion Bluford and Ronald McNair; the three soon became NASA’s first African American astronauts to go to space. Among his other classmates were the first six women selected to join the astronaut corps and the first Asian American in space. The group received extraordinary media attention as NASA’s first examples of a more diverse astronaut corps. Jet and Ebony magazines featured the African Americans with pride.
Ronald McNair, Guy Bluford, and Fred Gregory, three of NASA’s first Black astronauts from the 1978 astronaut class. March 1978 cover of Jet Magazine featuring McNair, Bluford, and Gregory.
Gregory flew on three space shuttle missions. The first, in 1985, was STS 51-B, a Spacelab science mission on Challenger, for which he was the pilot, the first African American in that role. He flew again in 1989, this time as commander of STS-33 on Discovery, for a classified Department of Defense mission. On this mission, Gregory became the first African American to command a spaceflight. His next mission as commander, STS-44 in 1991 on Atlantis, was also for the Department of Defense. Gregory claims he was so focused on his missions that he never really thought about being the first Black pilot or commander, but other people made it a mark of distinction.
After his last flight, Gregory transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington to serve as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance and then as Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight. In 2002, he became NASA’s Deputy Administrator, second in command to the Administrator during the difficult time of the 2003 Columbia tragedy and its aftermath. Once again, he was the first African American in the agency’s senior leadership, a position he held until 2005. He also served briefly as acting NASA Administrator in early 2005, after Sean O’Keefe left and before Mike Griffin was sworn in. His NASA career was equally balanced between years in Texas and back home in Washington, DC.
Gregory has received many military and NASA medals and awards, as well as education and civic honors. Like his father’s legacy was honored with a named library, Gregory has been honored with a building bearing his name, Gregory Hall at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
After he logged 455 hours in space, spent his military career in Vietnam and around the country and his active astronaut years in Texas, Gregory came home to Washington for his final stint at NASA and his retirement. This renowned Washingtonian remains active as a speaker, advisor, and consultant.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forecasters are calling for a near-perfect spring setup on Sunday, with plenty of sunshine, blooming cherry blossoms, and temperatures soaring into the low to mid-80s across much of the region.
However, the warm, quiet weather won’t last long.
By the numbers:
After a cool start in the upper 40s and low 50s, temperatures are rising quickly under sunny skies. Many areas are expected to climb into the 80s this afternoon, with some spots pushing the mid to upper 80s.
It’s a brief but welcome preview of summer, and conditions couldn’t be better for getting outside.
With cherry blossoms nearing peak bloom, it’s an ideal day to head to the Tidal Basin, take a walk, or spend time outdoors with family and friends.
What we know:
A strong cold front moving in from Pennsylvania will bring increasing clouds later on Sunday, followed by a chance for showers and thunderstorms late Sunday night into early Monday.
Some storms could produce damaging winds or even small hail, especially to the north.
By Monday, the cold front pushes through, bringing a noticeable change.
- Gusty winds up to 30+ mph develop in the afternoon
- Temperatures fall back to more typical early spring levels
- Morning showers taper off, with improving conditions later in the day
What’s next:
Looking ahead, the pattern stays active.
After a brief warm-up into the 60s midweek, another strong cold front is expected Thursday into Friday, bringing the next chance for unsettled weather.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by the FOX 5 Weather Team.
WASHINGTON (7News) — The District is reacting to the Pentagon’s alleged plan to keep National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C. until 2029, the end of President Trump’s term, and his mission to make D.C. safe and beautiful.
At least 2,500 National Guard members have patrolled D.C. streets since last August.
ALSO READ | Judge rules National Guard deployment into DC was illegal; ruling faces appeal
Their deployment was initially scheduled to end in 2025. Then it was extended until the end of 2026. But now this could be home base for another three years.
Two U.S. officials told ABC News that the agency is planning to maintain a presence in the city through early 2029.
“We don’t need to have theater on our streets,” said Tropper Sanders, who has lived in the District for nearly 30 years.
The president first deployed the National Guard last summer, even as the District was already seeing historically low crime rates.
“There are crime and safety issues, but that should be handled with law enforcement and government,” said Sanders. “I think at a time when we are at war, we are expecting so much of our service members. We should not use their time in ways that are not essential.”
Some residents and city leaders said the military has helped clean up the city, but not with crime. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he does not see the point of keeping the National Guard in D.C.
“I know that the President said it was all about law and order,” he said. “The National Guard does not do law enforcement. What I see is them walking around, during the snow, creating a path they were very good at, shoveling snow.”
Residents like Shanti Israni told 7News their presence is noticeable.
“They open people’s doors,” said Israni. “If there are people who need help with groceries, they’ve helped the people with groceries. They’re helping. But also, my hope is that people in the community can also fill that role.”
Mendelson said the deployment is costing taxpayers significantly.
“It could be $1.6 million a day,” said Mendelson. “That’s like between almost $400 million and $600 million a year. I don’t get the point.”
If they are ordered to stay, community members told 7News they want the city to put the services to good use.
“The mayor or the next mayor should really look at where the true hotspots or issues are where we can make the most of these servicemembers’ time,” said Tropper. “That does not necessarily have to be about crime. There are a lot of things that we can deploy these talented people to deal with. If we have to do this, then let’s at least figure out how the District can be so much better in 2029.”
“I also realize that the people making these decisions probably know a lot that we don’t,” said Israni. “If our country’s at war, I wonder if risks in D.C. will increase. If D.C. will become more of a target, maybe in that way it might be helpful to have people, but, if again, if the mission is keeping D.C. safe and beautiful, D.C.’s saving people already.”
A Pentagon spokesperson told ABC News, “The Department of War is committed to supporting the president’s mission to address the epidemic of crime in the nation’s capital. There are no announcements to make at this time.”
The District has been pushing back on the president’s deployment, with expectations of continuing to do so.
SEE ALSO | Legal questions grow over National Guard’s long-term presence in DC
“There’s pending litigation now,” said Mendelson. “The attorney general won preliminarily, and then it went up to the court of appeals, where there was a stay. It’s all pending. There’s further legal argument.”
Officials told ABC News the deployment plan was finalized last year and is awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature.
Heads up for road closures and parking restrictions in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
Road closures are underway for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5K. Closures began Friday, and some will continue until 6 p.m. Saturday.
“All Road closures are in effect until further notice,” D.C. police said Saturday. “Use caution and follow Police directions.”
Here’s the full list of closures from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5K road closures
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
- 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 6th Street from Indiana Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026:
- Constitution Avenue from 9th Street to 15th Street, NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 06:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
- Constitution Avenue from 15th Street 23rd Street, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Virginia Avenue from 18th Street to 19th Street, NW
- 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 1800 block of C Street, NW
- E Street from 18th Street to 19th Street, NW
- 19th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 27th Street from Virginia Avenue to Whitehurst Freeway, NW
- I Street from 27th Street to Virginia Avenue, NW
- Calvert Street from 24th Street to Columbia Road, NW
- Adams Mill Road from 18th Street to Calvert Street, NW
- Columbia Road from 18th Street to 16th Street, NW
- Harvard Street from 16th Street to 5th Street, NW
- 5th Street from Harvard Street to Bryant Street, NW
- Bryant Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street, NW
- North Capitol Street from Bryant Street to K Street, NW
- K Street from North Capitol Street to 5th Street, NW
- 4th Street from K Street to E Street, NW
- E Street from 4th Street to 6th Street, NW
- 6th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
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