Ed Dwight’s life story is one of continuously overcoming overwhelming odds to find success. He is the quintessential Undeniable Spirit, a never give up renaissance man that finds success through perseverance.
Former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate. And, most recently, Ed became the oldest man to break the bounds of Earth and go to outer space on a Blue Origin rocket—at the age of 90 years old.
Born in 1933 and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, Ed joined the U.S. Air Force in 1953. Following pilot training, he served as a military fighter pilot, flying some of the era’s most advanced jet aircraft while attending school full-time at Arizona State University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
In 1961, Ed was chosen by President John F. Kennedy to enter training at the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS), an elite U.S. Air Force flight training program helmed at the time by aviation icon Chuck Yeager at Edwards Air Force Base and known as a pathway for entering NASA’s astronaut corps. After successfully completing the program, he proceeded into Aerospace Research Pilot training in preparation for astronaut duties. Ed was one of 26 people recommended to NASA by the Air Force for the astronaut corps—but ultimately not among those selected.
In 1966, three years after President Kennedy’s death, Ed left the military. Upon entering private life, Ed worked as a systems engineer at IBM, in addition to founding a restaurant chain and a real estate development company in Denver before ultimately fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming an artist.
For nearly five decades, Ed has dedicated his life’s work to using sculpture as a medium to tell the story of Black history. His early career as a sculptor began with a commission in 1974 to create a sculpture of George Brown, Colorado’s first Black Lieutenant Governor. He was then asked by the Colorado Centennial Commission to create a series of bronzes entitled Black Frontier in the American West to honor the contributions of African Americans in opening up the West. This led to Ed’s next major series of bronzes, Jazz: An American Artform, depicting the evolution of jazz music from its roots in Africa to the contemporary artists of the jazz era, including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Goodman. In total, Ed has created more than 20,000 gallery works, many of which are on display in museums and galleries around the world as well as in the collections of many fine art collectors.
In addition to his gallery works, Ed has created more than 130 public artworks and large-scale monuments celebrating iconic Black figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, among many others. Ed’s work is installed in museums and public spaces across the U.S. and Canada.
Ed’s story is both interesting and entertaining—and will inspire people unlock their own inner Undeniable Spirit to succeed in their life’s endeavors. Learn more about Ed’s story on National Geographic Channel’s The Space Race documentary or eddwight.com.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
U.S. Senator Angus King
U.S. Representative Joe Neguse
Bennet, Cornyn, Hickenlooper, King, Neguse Introduce the Bipartisan Bill to Honor EDWARD J. DWIGHT JR. with Congressinal Gold Medal
Washington D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine), and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced the bipartisan Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 to honor the life and legacy of author, sculptor, retired test pilot, and astronaut Ed Dwight, Jr. In 2024, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, 90-year-old Dwight made history as the oldest person to travel to space.
Dwight first made history as our country’s first African American astronaut candidate when President John F. Kennedy invited him to join the U.S. Air Force’s astronaut training program in 1961. However, he was never granted the opportunity to fly to space due to racism within the program. After completing his military service, Dwight moved to Denver, where he became an IBM engineer. He later opened a restaurant and worked as a real estate developer before pursuing his passion for sculpting fulltime. Today, Dwight’s sculptures are collected by museums, institutions, and art enthusiasts around the world, including the Smithsonian. The Congressional Gold Medal would recognize Dwight’s historic service, example of excellence despite adversity, and contributions to art and Black history.
“Ed Dwight is one of our country’s greatest living legends,” said Bennet. “Despite racism and prejudice, Ed never stopped reaching higher and became a trailblazer in the worlds of art, science, aviation, and most recently, space travel. His successes are Colorado’s successes. It is a privilege to highlight Ed’s accomplishments and advocate for him to receive the highest honor bestowed by the United States Congress.”
“Six decades after Ed Dwight Jr. was wrongly snubbed from making history as the first black astronaut, he was finally able to realize his dream of traveling to space and set a new record for the oldest person in space at the age of 90,” said Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to award Ed Dwight Jr. with the Congressional Gold Medal for his perseverance in the face of adversity and trailblazing spirit, which I hope will inspire all Americans to model his lifelong commitment to shoot for the stars.”
“Ed Dwight is an inspiration to every American seeking to push the limits of what’s possible,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s high time we recognize his many contributions to our nation and to Colorado.”
“Ed Dwight never let growing up in segregated American get in the way of his big dreams,” said King.
“In the face of racism and prejudice, he never stopped aiming high — and found many successes through military service, entrepreneurship, sculpting and space travel. It’s an honor to recognize the content of Ed Dwight’s character through this Congressional Gold Medal. His story is an inspiration for the people from his home state of Kansas all the way to Maine.”
“Ed Dwight was a barrier breaker, overcoming obstacles to become the first African American candidate selected for the U.S. Air Force’s astronaut training program. Since then, he has continued to uplift and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans—both across the country and in Colorado— through his art,” said Neguse. “We are incredibly proud of his contributions to our nation, and I am honored to join Senator Bennet in the effort to award Ed with a Congressional Gold Medal.”
“The Congressional Gold Medal would bestow recognition to a man who has fulfilled his lifelong dream of going to space,” said Patricia Duncan, Colorado activist and author. “Senator Bennet’s bill honors Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate, a humble man receiving all the recognition he has earned and deserves.”
“As of May 2024, Ed Dwight, using the moniker of ‘Justice’, was able to fulfill a 60 year dream of flying into space and earning the official title of Astronaut. I would like to sincerely thank Senator Bennet for recognizing and acknowledging my father, Ed Dwight’s contributions to Colorado, our culture, and the country as a whole,” said Tamara Rhone, Ed Dwight’s daughter. “It means so much to me and my family as I know he appreciates that he is not forgotten in this journey to reach and attain his dreams and be a positive example for others to follow.”
In 2020, U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond presented Dwight with the Commander’s Public Service Award and inducted him as an honorary member of the Space Force, for his contributions to the United States, space, and history.
