Deke Slayton Status: Deceased 3/1/1924 – 6/13/1993 Nationality: American Type: Government Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Donald Kent “Deke” Slayton, was an American World War II pilot, aeronautical engineer, and test pilot who was selected as one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts, and became NASA’s first Chief of the Astronaut Office.