MOUNT BERRY– Astronaut Scott “Kidd” Poteet will speak at Berry College Thursday, Oct. 29, during a free lecture open to the public.
The event begins at 6 p.m. Eastern, or 5 p.m. Central, in Spruill Ballroom inside the Krannert Center.
Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and Polaris Dawn mission pilot, is this year’s Cecil B. Wright III Integrity in Leadership lecturer.
From Military Aviation to Spaceflight
According to his Polaris Program biography, Poteet served 20 years in the Air Force. His career also included service as a Thunderbirds demonstration pilot, with more than 3,200 flying hours and 400 combat hours.
Later, he served as mission director for Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight mission.
Poteet then flew as pilot on Polaris Dawn in September 2024. The four-person crew spent nearly five days orbiting Earth before returning off the Florida coast Sept. 15.
The mission also included the first commercial spacewalk and scientific research to support future human spaceflight.
A Story of Persistence and Purpose
Berry’s introduction describes Poteet’s early struggles with motion sickness, a fear of heights, and academic challenges before pursuing a career as a fighter pilot.
In addition, the college highlights humility, purpose, and the use of personal gifts as themes drawn from his experiences.
Poteet is also an endurance athlete who has competed in Ironman triathlons, including world championship events in Hawaii.
The Spruill Ballroom is on Berry’s main campus. The college’s address is 2277 Martha Berry Highway NW in Mount Berry, Georgia.
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