A native of Jackson, Michigan, Alfred Worden graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1955. He was commissioned into the Air Force and logged more than 4,000 hours flying time during his career—including 2,500 hours in jets. He earned Master of Science degrees in Astronautical/Aeronautical Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Video from the National Air and Space Society's 2019 Vice Adm. Donald D. Engen Flight Jacket Night lecture featuring Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden.