Barry Wilmore was a walk-on linebacker who became a record-setting, award-winning standout in the Tennessee Tech defense in the mid-1980s. He went on to a decorated career as a combat pilot in the U.S. Navy and member of the NASA astronaut program.

A product of Mt. Juliet High School where he lettered in football, baseball and wrestling, Wilmore first joined the Golden Eagle football program under Coach Don Wade. He was elevated to the starting role at defensive end for the final three games of the season, making 10 total tackles.

A knee injury and operation brought about a redshirt season in 1983 under new coach Gary Darnell, but Wilmore returned to action as a backup strong safety in 1984. He made 11 total tackles with one quarterback sack.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in May, he returned to the Golden Eagle roster as one of the university’s first graduate student-athletes and made the switch to outside linebacker for the 1985 campaign. After one game in a backup role, he took over the starting spot for the final 10 games.

It was during his final season that Wilmore established himself in the TTU record books and reaped several post-season honors for his talents both on the field and in the classroom. He finished the year with 143 stops, which was the third-highest individual season in school history, led the team in quarterback sacks and fumbles recovered, and was second in interceptions. He broke up five passes and had four tackles-for-loss.

Among his individual game highlights, Wilmore made 21 tackles in the game against Austin Peay, the second highest tackle total in school history. He has 20 tackles against Akron and 17 against Tennessee State.

He was voted Academic All-District and named to Leonard’s All-America team. He was also selected recipient of the Robert Hills Johnson Award for his overall contribution to the team and won a Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.

Also active on campus, Wilmore was a president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a member of the Electrical Engineering Honors Society. He earned a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tech and a master’s in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee.

Following his playing days at Tech, Wilmore joined the United States Navy and while in the service achieved the rank of Commander as a combat pilot.

During his experience as a combat pilot, he flew missions during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Southern Watch. Wilmore completed four operational deployments, flying the A-7E and FA-18 aircraft from the decks of the USS Forrestal, USS Kennedy, USS Enterprise, and the USS Eisenhower.

As a Navy pilot, Wilmore was awarded five Air Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, and numerous Unit decorations. He was “Light Attack Wing One Pilot of the Year” in 1991 and “Strike Fighter Aviator of the Year” in 1999 for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

In July 2000, Wilmore was selected as a pilot by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).