Auburn, Kentucky native David H. Finney was the Chief of the Johnson Space Center Aircraft Operations Division in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate until his retirement from NASA in July 2008. The Division operated 44 aircraft of eight types that flew 11,000 annual flight hours in support of human space flight and aeronautical research programs. A Naval Academy graduate, he joined an A-7A squadron at NAS Lemoore, California in 1969, made one cruise aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) and flew seventy-five combat missions in Southeast Asia. After a stellar Navy career, Finney joined NASA, and flew 9277 flight hours in 30 types of aircraft and was current in the T-38A, T-38N, Super Guppy, B747 Shuttle Carrier, and the G159 aircraft.