Spring Convocation - Students - University of Saskatchewan

Honorary Doctor of LawsDafydd (Dave) Rhys WilliamsBorn in Saskatoon, Dafydd (David) Rhys Williamsattended high school in Beaconsfield, Quebec. Hegraduated from McGill University with a Bachelor ofScience in Biology in 1976 and went on to obtain aMaster of Science in Physiology, aDoctorate of Medicine and a Masterof Surgery from the Faculty ofMedicine at McGill University in1983.In June 1992, the Canadian SpaceAgency selected Dr. Williams as one offour successful candidates from a fieldof 5,330 applicants to begin astronauttraining. In May 1993, he wasappointed manager of the Missions andSpace Medicine Group within theCanadian Astronaut Program.In January 1995, Dr. Williams wasselected to join the international classof NASA mission specialist astronautcandidates. He spent one year trainingat the Johnson Space Centre, and in May 1996 wasassigned to the Payloads and Habitability Branch of theNASA Astronaut Office.Dr. Williams’ first foray into space took place in April 1998aboard the space shuttle Columbia. During the 16-dayflight, called Neurolab, the seven-person crew served asboth experiment subjects and operators for 26 individuallife science experiments. These experiments, dedicated tothe advancement of neuroscience research, focused on theeffects of microgravity on the brain and the nervoussystem. Dr. Williams also functioned as the crew medicalofficer, the flight engineer during the ascent phase and wastrained to perform contingency spacewalks.During the Neurolab mission, Columbia orbited Earth256 times, covered over 10 million kilometres andspent over 381 hours in space.From July 1998 until September 2002, Dr. Williams heldthe position of Director of the Spaceand Life Sciences Directorate at theJohnson Space Centre in Texas. Withthis appointment, he became the firstnon-American to hold a seniormanagement position within NASA.He concurrently held a six-monthposition as the first Deputy AssociatedAdministrator for Crew Health andSafety in the Office of Spaceflight atNASA Headquarters in 2001.In addition to his assignments,Dr. Williams continues to take part inastronaut training. In October 2001,after training as an aquanaut, hebecame the first Canadian to have livedand worked in space and the ocean.Dr. Williams is currently training toparticipate in his second spaceflight, MissionSTS-118/13A.a. During the 11-day mission to add a trusssegment and relocate solar arrays on the InternationalSpace Station, Dr. Williams will perform three spacewalks.Many awards and special honours have been bestowedupon Dr. Williams including several Commonwealthawards and prizes. In 2002, he received the NASAOutstanding Leadership Medal, and in 2003, a NASAJohnson Space Centre Space and Life SciencesDirectorate Special Professional Achievement Award forthe implementation of the Automatic ExternalDefibrillator Program that has saved several lives at theNASA Johnson Space Centre.Dr. Williams is married and has two children.University of Saskatchewan52004 Spring Convocation