S. David Griggs

S. David Griggs

S. (Stanley) David Griggs, a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy (Reserve), was born on September 7, 1939 in Portland, Oregon. He went by the name David. He was a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, National Air Racing Group, Naval Reserve Association, Naval Academy Alumni Association, Association of Naval Aviators, Naval Institute, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Naval Order of the United States, and the Tailhook Association.

Griggs died on June 17, 1989 in the crash of a World War II era training plane at an air show near Earle, Arkansas. (North American AT-6D N3931S).

STS-33 mission insignia

He was to serve as pilot of STS-33 on his second trip into space aboard the shuttle Discovery later in the year. That mission, for the Department of Defense, flew in November with John Blaha as pilot. Griggs is commemorated on the mission insignia with a single gold star on the blue field.

NASA Biography

Space Flights:

  • Mission Specialist, STS-51D, Discovery, April 12-19, 1985. Conducted the first unscheduled EVA of the space program.

Total Hours in Space: 167+, 3+ EVA hours

Astronaut Group: 8-January 31, 1978

Degrees: BS, U.S. Naval Academy, 1962, MS, Administration, George Washington University, 1970.

Military Service & Awards: He served in Vietnam. Awarded the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, 15 Air Medals, 3 Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Achievement Award, and NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award.

Interred at Arlington National Cemetery: June 21, 1989

Karen Frances Griggs was born on April 29, 1946. She and her husband had two daughters, Alison and Carre. Karen died on May 17, 2019 and was interred with her husband on August 6, 2020.

Section: 7A
Grave: 81
Grid: TU-23/24

How to locate: From the visitor’s center follow the signs to the Tomb of the Unknowns. Section 7A is a small area to the left of the sidewalk very close to the Tomb of the Unknowns. When facing the section when standing at Roosevelt Drive, the gravesite is in the sixth row back.