Wilmore Way
Wilmore Way, a walkway through the heart of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech University鈥檚 campus, is a tribute to 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech alumnus, U.S. Navy Captain and NASA Astronaut Barry 鈥淏utch鈥� Wilmore. As you walk along Wilmore Way, we invite you to explore the milestones of his remarkable journey, from his roots at 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech to his leadership aboard the International Space Station, and be inspired to aim high and live Wings Up.
成年人深夜福利在线观看 Roots
Originally from Mt. Juliet, 成年人深夜福利在线观看, Barry 鈥淏utch鈥� Wilmore had an early interest in aviation and science. He attended Mt. Juliet High School and grew up hearing stories of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech University.
Barry鈥檚 father Eugene Wilmore earned a degree in industrial management with a minor in accounting from Tech in 1958, when the university was known as 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Polytechnic Institute. Eugene was pleased when Barry and his older brother Jack Wilmore chose to attend Tech as well.
Golden Eagle Beginnings
The stories the Wilmore family can tell about life at 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech University span generations and the distances Tech degrees have taken them go from accounting services for the U.S. Army, to leadership at one of the country鈥檚 largest vehicle manufacturers, to nursing and medical school and even into space.
Jack Wilmore was Eugene and Faye Wilmore鈥檚 first son to choose Tech, earning what was then known as a degree in industrial technology in 1984. It wasn鈥檛 long before Jack鈥檚 younger brother Barry came to Tech as well. The two called the fifth floor of Maddox Hall home during what was Jack鈥檚 sophomore year and Barry鈥檚 freshman year.
Barry prospered at Tech as well, playing as a walk-on in the Golden Eagle football team鈥檚 1982 season and earning a name for himself on the field, all while earning an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in 1985 and then a master鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering at Tech.
Barry鈥檚 wife Deanna is also a Tech graduate, and although Barry says the two knew
each other during their time at Tech, their relationship didn鈥檛 blossom until later.
They ultimately married and started their own family.
The Wilmore family has deep roots at the university that continue to grow.
Watch a video interview with the Wilmore family 禄
Naval Aviator
Wilmore took his love of aviation and science and became a Naval Officer and pilot with the U.S. Navy, graduating from the United State Naval Test Pilot School. With more than 8,000 hours of flight time and 663 carrier landings in tactical aircraft, Captain Wilmore completed four operational deployments.
Test Pilot to Astronaut
Prior to being selected to participate in NASA鈥檚 astronaut program in 2000, Wilmore was also a flight test instructor for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. There, he helped develop the T-45 GoShawk jet aircraft trainer.Prior to being selected to participate in NASA鈥檚 astronaut program in 2000, Wilmore was also a flight test instructor for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. There, he helped develop the T-45 GoShawk jet aircraft trainer.
NASA Career
During his time with NASA, Wilmore completed three spaceflights, spending a total of 464 days in space.
Wilmore first launched to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September 2014 as part of Expedition 41. He served as a Flight Engineer before taking command of the station in November with the arrival of the Expedition 42 crew. He returned to Earth in March 2015, after logging 167 days in space and completing four spacewalks totaling more than 25 hours.
Earlier in his career, Wilmore piloted the space shuttle Atlantis during the STS-129 mission in 2009, traveling 4.5 million miles across 171 Earth orbits.
Most recently, Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing鈥檚 Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station the next day. When NASA made the decision to return Starliner uncrewed, Wilmore and Williams continued serving as Expedition 71/72 crewmembers, returning to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX鈥檚 Dragon spacecraft.
After 25 years of service, Wilmore retired from NASA on July 25, 2025, marking the end of a remarkable career dedicated to exploration, leadership and scientific discovery.
Achievements and Honors
In addition to his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech, Wilmore also holds a Master of Science degree in aviation systems from the University of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech in 2012.
Throughout his decorated career, Wilmore has displayed a dedication to service, serving on 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech University鈥檚 inaugural Board of Trustees (2017-2026). In 2025, he was awarded the university鈥檚 second-ever Order of the Eagle and was named Tennessean of the Year by the 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Sports Hall of Fame.
In August of 2025, Tech鈥檚 Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution naming the university鈥檚 pedestrian walkway and plaza 鈥淲ilmore Way.鈥�
His achievements in aeronautics, engineering and leadership have made him a distinguished figure in spaceflight, and he continues to inspire the 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech community with his contributions to science and innovation.
Other notable awards and achievements include:
The Legion of Merit; The Defense Superior Service Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; two Navy Meritorious Service Medals; five Air Medals, three with Combat 'V' designation; six Navy Commendation Medals, three of which also hold the Combat 'V' designation; The NASA Distinguished Service Medal; two NASA Space Flight Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals.
NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award (2018), University of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Centennial Alumni - Top 100 Graduates (2017), University of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Mechanical Aerospace & Biomedical Engineering (MABE) Hall of Fame Inductee (2017), University of 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Accomplished Alumni Award (2015), 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Technological University Outstanding Alumnus and Engineer of Distinction (2010), 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Technological University 鈥淪ports Hall of Fame鈥� Inductee for football (2003), U.S. Atlantic Fleet "Strike Fighter Aviator of the Year" (1999), Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic 鈥淪cott Speicher Award鈥� for Weapons Employment Excellence (1998), United States Atlantic Fleet 鈥淟ight Attack Wing One - Pilot of the Year鈥� (1991), Initial Naval Flight Training 鈥淐ommodores List with Distinction鈥� (1987-88), Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) 鈥淒istinguished Naval Graduate鈥� (1986).
