2006 Dr. Gregory Olsen, Ph.D.

 

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Dr Gregory Olsen, Ph.D.
“Experiences of the third private citizen to orbit the earth”Gregory Olsen, born in Brooklyn, New York, was the son of a IBEW Local 3 electrician. He graduated from Ridgefield Park High School, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey in 1962. After being written off as a failure by teachers due to poor grades in high school, Gregory Olsen planned to join the United States Army until he was counseled to try college for several months. Through an IBEW Local 3 scholarship, Olsen attempted college, kept his grades high, and graduated magna cum laude with multiple degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He later graduated with a PhD from the University of Virginia.

He is an American entrepreneur and scientist who in October 2005 became the third private citizen to make a paid trip into space. He is the co-founder and present chairman of Sensors Unlimited Inc., a company developing optoelectronic devices such as sensitive near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR) cameras. One of Sensors Unlimited’s major customers is NASA. http://www.sensorsinc.com/bio_olsen.html