When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to walk on the moon, Michael Collins had the most important job on two worlds. As command pilot, it was his assignment to take his fellow astronauts to the moon, and to bring them home safely.

A test pilot and fighter pilot, rising to the rank of colonel in the Air Force, Collins joined the astronaut program in 1963. He became a space walker in 1966 during the Gemini 10 mission. He spent eight years as director of the National Air and Space Museum, and is the author of three books on America's space program.

Collins competed as a varsity wrestler while attending St. Albans Prep School in Washington, D.C.

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he earned a doctorate from Northwestern University.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Hubbard Medal; Collier, Goddard and Harmon Trophies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and an international gold space medal.

He served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 1974, was director of the National Air and Space Museum from 1971 through 1978, and was undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institute, from 1978 to 1980.

After a tour as vice president of LTV Aerospace, 1980-85, he launched his own firm, Michael Collins Associates, where he has been president since 1985.