Richard Truly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
| In office July 1, 1989 – March 31, 1992 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | James C. Fletcher |
| Succeeded by | Daniel S. Goldin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Harrison Truly November 12, 1937 Fayette, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 2024 (aged 86) Genesee, Colorado, U.S. |
| Education | Georgia Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1959–1989 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands | Fighter Squadron 33 |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Defense Superior Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross NASA Distinguished Service Medal |
| Astronaut career | |
 Truly in October 1979 | |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 8d 7h 21m |
| Selection | USAF MOL Group 1 (1965) NASA Group 7 (1969) |
| Missions | ALT STS-2 STS-8 |
Mission insignia |    |
| Retirement | May 1992 |
Richard Harrison Truly (November 12, 1937 – February 27, 2024) was an American fighter pilot, engineer and astronaut who served as a vice admiral in the United States Navy and as the eighth administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 1989 to 1992. He was the first former astronaut to head the space agency.
After his departure from NASA, he led the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 1992 to 1997, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory from 1997 to 2005.