Banneker Elementary's guest of honor for Field Day on June 10, 2010 was Mr. Gary E. Payton is the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs, Washington, D.C. He provides guidance, direction and oversight for the formulation, review and execution of military space programs. This includes oversight of all space and space-related acquisition plans, strategies and assessments for research, development, test, evaluation and space-related industrial base issues.

While here Mr. Payton answered questions from the students regarding space exploration, rockets, fighter pilots, etc. Invited by Parent, Maria Eagen, Mr. Payton encouraged the students' interest in science.

Mr. Payton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and his Master of Science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University. As an Air Force officer, he served as a pilot, instructor pilot, spacecraft operations director and space technology manager. In 1985, he flew as a payload specialist on board the Space Shuttle Discovery in the first military flight of the space shuttle program. He retired from the Air Force in the rank of colonel after more than 23 years of service, with his last duty in the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. While there, he was responsible for directing the development of sensor and interceptor technologies for detecting, tracking, discriminating targets, and intercepting ballistic missiles in all phases of flight. He was instrumental in the initiation and management of the Midcourse Sensor Experiment, the Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile, Delta183, Talon Shield, Clementine and the DC-X launch vehicle technology project.

Mr. Payton has also served as NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Technology where he initiated, planned and led the Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstration program, which included the X-33, X-34, X-37 and DC-XA flight test projects. His responsibilities included program formulation, budget preparation and program advocacy with Congress, the White House, the Department of Defense and the media. For two years he was the Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations for ORBIMAGE, a leading global provider of Earth imagery products and services. Prior to his current position, Mr. Payton served as the Deputy for Advanced Systems in the Missile Defense Agency. There he led the MDA technology program to enhance ballistic missile defense sensor, weapon and battle management capabilities.