Grissom doctors moonlight for NASA

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. (AFNEWS) --  Two Reserve doctors from Grissom Air Reserve Base have front row seats for space shuttle takeoffs and landings to help astronauts in case of emergencies.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Scott Phillips or Maj. (Dr.) Greg Pinnell, both from the 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron here, work for NASA as part of a 30-member medical rescue team for NASA.

"We're there in case a survivable mishap occurs," Colonel Phillips said. "We can be there to rescue and treat the astronauts."

Colonel Phillips, a native of Logansport, Ind., is the current senior member of the team. He joined the program in 1998 following an active-duty tour with a special operations unit.

"I had most of the training already, so it was an easy transition for me," he said.

For Major Pinnell, a Saginaw, Mich., resident, it wasn't quite as easy.

"When I first met (Colonel Phillips) I told him one of my dreams was to work with NASA," he said. "His response was, 'Have I got a deal for you,'" he said.

Participants must have survival training and advanced cardiac and life support training. Both reservists said they hope they never have to use their training, but they maintain preparedness.

Even though the team consists of 30 members from throughout the country, not everyone is assigned to work a takeoff or a landing. Colonel Phillips has worked 10 takeoff and landings during his tenure with the program, while Major Pinnell has worked seven missions.

"I'm trying to catch up," Major Pinnell said.

The two work together on occasion at Grissom ARB, and both said their friendship and working relationship shows when they work for NASA.

"We're able to know what each other is thinking at various times," Colonel Phillips said.

The shuttle program plans to have five launches this year, and they said they hope to work together again in July on a shuttle landing. Both may deploy to Turkey this spring in support of air expeditionary force taskings.

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