By Lydia Seabol Avant Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | For more than 20 years, Pat Duggins has covered shuttle launches and other stories as an analyst for National Public Radio. Now, he has a new job — news director of Alabama Public Radio, 91.5 FM. “I have wondered what the transition would be like, but I have felt at home here within the very first day,” Duggins said of Tuscaloosa. Duggins started his new job Thursday. Duggins, who served as the senior news analyst on WMFE in Orlando, Fla., worked at the station for 24 years. During that time, he covered 101 shuttle missions, including the 1986 Challenger explosion and the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster. He also served as the local host for NPR’s “All Things Considered.” As news director for Alabama Public Radio, Duggins said he hopes to put his experience to use, behind the scenes and on the air. “I’ve always felt that a news director does his or her job best when they participate in production,” Duggins said. “Having done this for 25 years, I’ve done it all — spots, features and documentaries. I’m a kind of jack-of-all trades and absolutely feel it’s my responsibility to keep my hand in it.” Duggins said he also hopes to teach at the University of Alabama as an adjunct instructor, something he has experience in from working at the University of Central Florida. Duggins would be an asset in the classroom, said Loy Singleton, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences at UA. “One of the real strengths of our college’s programs is that we have number of our professional communicators, media makers, teaching as adjuncts,” Singleton said. “One of the things we look forward to is continuing to develop opportunities for students to meet in the classroom with people, particularly like Pat, who have so much to bring as far as experience.” Duggins said he also plans to continue covering NASA. NPR has expressed an interest in coverage of the space industry in Alabama. As NASA retires the shuttle in coming years, the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville will play an important role in creating the next spacecraft, Duggins said. “I know that is one of the things Pat is really excited about, Huntsville just right up the road,” said Brett Tannehill, senior reporter for Alabama Public Radio. “That is really exciting and we are hoping his experience will do something special with that.” Duggins published a book on space in 2007, “Final Countdown,” which was released in paperback in April. His next book, “Trailblazing Mars,” will be released next year. Although Duggins lived in Florida for 38 years, he said that getting used to Tuscaloosa has not been difficult. His wife will soon join him. “Really, the one thing that really gets me is the sense of community here,” Duggins said. “It’s such a transient community but everywhere you go, everybody is so nice. And if nothing else, you can get them talking about the Crimson Tide. That always starts a conversation.” Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabol avant@tuscaloosanews.com.


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