061 - Col. Eileen Collins (Ret), NASA

Col. Eileen Collins is the first American woman to command a Space Mission. Eileen M. Collins is a former astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. She retired from the Air Force in Jan 2005 and from NASA in May 2006 after a 28-year distinguished career. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a space shuttle. Collins graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1990. She wa...