Background
Beddingfield was born in Clayton, North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University.
Beddingfield was born in Clayton, North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University.
He graduated in 1956 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
Aerospace career
Beddingfield went to work for the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to conduct flight tests in redesigned airplanes. After three-and-a-half years of aircraft testing, he left to work for National Aeronautics and Space Administration in its fledgling manned space program in 1959. Gus Grissom, one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, had done flight testing with Beddingfield at Wright-Patterson, and talked him into going to National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His first job was at Cape Canaveral, Florida helping to get Project Mercury started, serving as mechanical engineer
At this time, National Aeronautics and Space Administration had 33 employees and five people on contract at the Cape.
Beddingfield was involved in preparing for and launching the two Mercury-Redstone missions and the four Mercury-Atlas missions from 1959 to 1963. Before completion of the Mercury program, Beddingfield was engaged in planning the Gemini program and to some extent, the early planning for Apollo.
He was one of few who worked on all three manned space programs at the same time. After the safe return of the first Apollo moon-landing mission (Apollo 11), Beddingfield was assigned to the Space Shuttle program in August 1969.
He was the first National Aeronautics and Space Administration Kennedy Space Center employee assigned to the program and worked on the shuttle in a number of progressively responsible positions through its first 23 flights.
He retired from National Aeronautics and Space Administration as the deputy director of shuttle operations in November 1985. Retirement and death
In retirement Beddingfield was an advocate for the space program and was a frequent commentator on local and national television during shuttle launches. He also contributed to many space history initiatives by National Aeronautics and Space Administration or private entities.
He served as president of the Florida chapter of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Alumni League from 1994–1996.
He volunteered his time to the United States Space Walk of Fame Foundation and served on its board of directors after its inception. He also volunteered weekly at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum.
Beddingfield died on June 13, 2012 in Titusville, Florida at age 78. During his 26-year National Aeronautics and Space Administration career, he received numerous forms of recognition for his service.
He was also a lifetime member of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association and served on its board.
