The ASMDA Wall of Honor Committee oversees the biannual nomination process, including announcing nominations, managing the budget, promoting the opportunity to eligible organizations, collecting submissions, and recommending selections to the ASMDA Board.
Send an email to bo*********@*******ec.com detailing the following:
Confirmation of nominee’s applicable government organization with 10+ years of service, their experience, their qualifications, and their exceptional contributions related to air, space, and missile defense.
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The process and criteria used to identify and select new individuals to be inducted into the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor are described below.
Selection Process
Selection and induction of new members will be done every two years.
Nominations will be solicited from: Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC); Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA); Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space; Director, Missiles and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC); Director, AMCOM RDEC; and Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
The ASMDA Board of Directors will select a Wall of Fame Committee to oversee the selection process. This Committee will solicit the nominations, evaluate the candidates, and select the individuals to be inducted based on the selection criteria described below. Selection will be based on exceptional contributions and will be made at the sole discretion of the ASMDA Board of Directors (based on the recommendations of the ASMDA Wall of Fame Committee.)
Nominations must include a detailed description of the nominee’s experience, qualifications, and contributions related to space and missile defense (normally
All candidates must meet the minimum criteria described below.
Selection Criteria
Candidates must be former civilian employees of Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC); Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA); Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space; Director, Missiles and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC); Director, AMCOM RDEC; and Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center or their predecessor organizations.
Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of civil service in the above organizations or their predecessor organizations.
Candidates must have demonstrated a strong commitment to the furtherance of the objectives of space and missile defense organizations, programs, and its people.
Candidates must have made significant technical, business, and/or management contributions to space and missile defense.
Candidates must be of high integrity.
Nominations can be mailed to the following address:
ASMDA
Distinguished Civilian Nomination Committee
P.O Box 11001
Huntsville, AL 35814-1001
The Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association Civilian Employee Hall of Fame Wall of Honor recognizes distinguished civilian professionals from:
Inductees are civil servants who have made significant technical, managerial, or administrative contributions to the research, development, testing, and evaluation of air, space, and missile defense technologies and systems. Honorees demonstrate exceptional commitment to the nation’s Air, Space, and Missile Defense mission beyond normal duty requirements.
The U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Fame honors past members of the organizations dedicated to support the United States efforts in air, space, and missile defense.
This wall honors selected civil servants who made a significant engineering, scientific, technical, analytical, management, or administrative contribution to the research, development, test, and evaluation of missile defense and space technologies or systems. Selected civil servants must also have maintained a high level of commitment to the Nation’s missile defense and space missions.
The Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association is proud to sponsor this U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Fame. New members are nominated and selected every other year.
A pioneer in missile defense and sensor technology, Dr. Bernard W. Vatz was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the 12thAnnual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama; on Tuesday, the 18th of August 2009.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were Lieutenant General Kevin T. Campbell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command / U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, and Dr. Rodney L. Robertson, the ASMDA 2009 President.
Dr. Vatz served thirty-five years in the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) and its predecessor organizations. Dr. Vatz is a pioneer of missile defense and was instrumental in sensor technology development and exploitation including the successful demonstration and technology insertion of the X-Band solid state transceiver module into the Ground Based Radar (GBR). for the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) X-Band family of radars.
His primary areas of expertise include system engineering, trades studies, radar, signal processing, sensors, discrimination, threat analysis, communications, countermeasures, technology forecasting – not to mention – Ballistic Missile Defense, Theater Missile Defense, and Cruise Missile Defense systems.
Dr. Vatz was the 41st member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Former Director of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center, Dr. Glenn Priddy was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the 12thAnnual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama; on Tuesday, the 18th of August 2009.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were Lieutenant General Kevin T. Campbell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command / U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, and Dr. Rodney L. Robertson, the ASMDA 2009 President.
Dr. Priddy served twenty-seven years in federal government civil service as a member of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) including five years as Director and as a member of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s (USASMDC) Technical Center. As Director of MSIC, he directed engineering performance, capability, and vulnerabilities assessments of foreign weapon systems including ballistic missile systems, anti-satellite weapons, and directed energy weapon systems. During his assignment at USASMDC, Dr. Priddy also served in the Alabama Department of Homeland Security where he was responsible for all Science and Technology programs and personally led the development of the interoperable communications architecture for the State of Alabama.
Dr. Priddy was the Associate Director, Space, for the Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center (SMDCTC), Huntsville, Alabama, where he was responsible for overall strategy and performance of Space and Space-related technology developments for U.S. Army applications. He was a Vice President of Nichols Research Corporation from 1990 to 1999 where he led the Special Programs Business Unit. Prior to that, Dr. Priddy was Director of the U.S. Army Missile and Space Intelligence Center from 1985 to 1990. He also served on the Department of Army Staff for two years as Special Assistant to the Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence. Dr. Priddy also served in the U.S. Army as an Air Defense Artillery officer.
Dr. Priddy holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in business administration from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University of Huntsville, Alabama, and a doctorate degree in Management from Southeastern Institute of Technology. He also holds a Private Pilot license. He was awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal for service to the Intelligence Community.
For over three decades, Dr. Priddy made significant technical, business, and leadership contributions in the areas of scientific and technical intelligence, space and missile defense, and homeland security.
Dr. Priddy was the 40th member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Dr. Darrell Collier joined the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as the Chief Scientist in October 1993 following a tour in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (Operations Research) as the Special Assistant for Forces and Program Evaluation since February 1993.
Before coming to the Pentagon, Dr. Collier was the director of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Analysis Command at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico. As director, Collier controlled an organization of more than 200 analysts and staff members responsible for producing numerous studies of weapons effectiveness.
Dr. Collier earned a bachelor of science degree in physics in 1964 from Arkansas State College, a master of science degree (1967) and a Ph.D.(1970) in physics from the University of Arkansas. He was commissioned in the Ordinance Corps through the ROTC program and served on active duty with the U.S. Army from 1968 through 1970. He was involved in the testing of nuclear weapons effects at WSMR.
Beginning his career in Federal Civil Service in 1970, Collier continued his evaluation of nuclear effects as a scientist on the Safeguard technical staff at the Safeguard System Evaluation Agency (SAFSEA) also located at WSMR. After SAFSEA transitioned into the TRADOC Systems Analysis Activity, Dr. Collier remained with the activity and assumed positions of leadership. He held positions as chief of Command and Control Cost Effectiveness; chief of the Quality Assurance Branch; deputy division chief for Infantry Systems; and chief of the Battalion Model Development Branch.
Dr. Collier served as scientific advisor from 1977 to 1987 for the TRADOC Combined Arms Test Activity (TCATA) at Fort Hood, Texas. The TCATA designed, conducted, analyzed, and reported on field tests of proposed Organizational, Training, and Doctrinal concepts as well as new material. His duties involved the technical oversight of the test program as well as instrumentation development. Collier was promoted to the government’s Senior Executive Service in 1982. In January 1988, he returned to WSMR to assume the leadership of TRAC-WSMR, the TRADOC Analysis Command element at WSMR
Mr. Cerny worked for defense contractors in Huntsville, including Northrop, CSC, Teledyne Brown Engineering, and SPARTA and had spent over 27 years as a civil servant in the federal government, most recently as Chief of the System Integration Division in the Missile Defense Agency.
He worked on and chaired many complex projects during his distinguished career, and had many published technical papers.
Mr. Cerny was a graduate of the Defense System Management College and the Air Command and Staff College. He was a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command Management Development Program, and a recipient of the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command’s highest civilian award – the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service Excellence. Pete’s contributions to the Technology Advancement and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs earned him national recognition.
He was also Past President of ASMDA (Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association) and Past President of the Toastmasters Club, where he achieved the highest level of competence.
Mr. Cerny was on the board of the Aerospace Engineering Council at Auburn, a Lifetime Member of the Auburn Alumni Association, a long-time Tigers Unlimited contributor, and a “500 Club” member of the Huntsville Madison County Auburn Club. He was an Auburn Tiger who bled orange and blue. Every football season since college you could find him and his family attending all of Auburn’s home games and some away games.
Mr. Cerny passed away on December 19, 2008.
Over the course of 37 years, Mr. John Cady held various positions within the Army, rising in rank with increased and diverse responsibilities from a GS 9 to a GS-15 Supervisor, enabling him to become well versed in every functional area of an Army Legal Office.
He began his career at the U.S. Army Missile Command (a predecessor to the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command) as a contracts attorney defending the Army against contractor claims and disputes & appeals. He then transferred to the U.S. Army Safeguard Systems Command (predecessor command to SMDC), assisting in the developing the procurement strategy and defending against bid protests for large value contracts covering the base operations support contracts awarded in support of the newly built Stanley R. Michelson Missile Defense Site in North Dakota.
Mr. Cady was the principal legal adviser to a cadre of 6 Huntsville-based SESs within SMDC (2 at the protocol level 5) which employs over 700 scientists, engineers, and other professionals. His span of advice includes all fields of the law applicable to an Army contracting command: Contract Law including non-FAR based contracts (CRADA’s & Grants), Procurement Fraud, International Law, Land Use Agreements and Easements, Environmental Law, Fiscal Law, Military Installation Law, Security and Intelligence Law, Ethics and Standards of Conduct Law, Intellectual Property Law, Labor & Personnel Laws, Equal Employment Opportunity Laws, FOIA & Privacy Act Laws, Internal & External Investigations.
Mr. Cady provided daily advice to the Deputy to the Commander for Research, Development, and Acquisition and to the Directors of the Huntsville-based Technical Centers (Battle Lab Future Warfare Center, the Space and Missile Defense Technical Center, the Test & Evaluation Center with oversight of test activities at the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) and the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility at White Sands Missile Range in NM, the Office of Technical Integration & Interoperability; and, all of the Huntsville-based command-wide major staff elements (Human Resources, Resource Management, Security & Intelligence, and the Engineering Office responsible for major & minor construction projects and NEP A & environmental compliance programs in support of SMDC’s world wide activities. Programmatically, these Centers and customers are conducting research, development, and deployments efforts in support of the Joint Warfighter, the Global War on Terrorism, and defenses against missile-attacks, involving contract values in excess of $25B and annual appropriations of approximately $1 B. Mr. Cady provided periodic advice to the Commanding General (LTG) as well as to other officials of Huntsville-based programs of the MDA and the Army PEO for Missiles and Space.
A former Director of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Mr. Jess F. Granone was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the opening reception for the 10thAnnual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama on Monday evening, the thirteenth of August 2007.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were Congressman Bud Cramer, Representing Alabama’s Fifth District, and Ms. Angie McCarter, the 10th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference Co-Chair.
Mr. Granone served as the Director, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center (SMDTC); Director, SMDTC Sensors Technical Director, PEO Missile Defense (PEO MD); and Project Manager (PM), Theater Missile Defense Project Office. Under his leadership, the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept Of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) hit-to-kill candidate was selected; the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) developed the first integrated Directed Energy (DE) technology program; and the first KATYUSHA rocket (a type of rocket artillery first built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II) was shot down by a laser.
Mr. Granone served in the Senior Executive Service (SES) as the Director of SMDTC from 1999 to 2005. Mr. Granone also served as the Director, Sensors Directorate within the Technical Center; Technical Director and Chief Engineer of the PEO MD; and Chief Engineer, Deputy Project Manager, and Project Manager of the Theater Missile Defense Project Office. Mr. Granone had national and international recognition as an engineer and manager of outstanding ability and vision. Mr. Granone participated in numerous international defense initiatives including NATO, Israel, and Japan; as well as numerous special assignments such as Chairman of the U.S. Army Missile Review Board, which selected the hit-to-kill candidate for the PAC-3 Program. Mr. Granone developed USASMDC’s first integrated technology program for DE and it was his vision that led to the first ever KATYUSHA rocket shot down by a laser system. Mr. Granone retired from government service in 2005.
Mr. Granone was the 36th member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Mr. Thomas M. Devanney’s served in the Senior Executive Service including assignments as the Deputy Program Director for the National Missile Defense (NMD) Joint Program Office (JPO), the Deputy Director for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Joint Program Office and as the Acting Program Director for the GMD JPO.
During his tenure, he played an absolutely instrumental role in developing, testing, building, and deploying the initial capability to defend America from long range ballistic missile attacks. His tireless efforts and attention to detail ensured that the initial capability was fielded on 30 September 2004, in spite of a turbulent budget, demanding environmental conditions, and stressing operational requirements. His inspirational leadership was key to achieving the established fielding date, while simultaneously conducting other critical activities. For example, conducting four intercept flight tests within a twelve month timeframe, or meeting a presidential fielding directive only 22 months after issuance. His tenacious approach to management ensured the highest standards of excellence were achieved in all aspects of the program. His contributions to America’s missile defense capability are clearly deserving of recognition as a pioneer and technical leader.
Dr. Rankin A. Clinton served four years active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
After discharge, he finished his B.S. degree and accepted a civil service appointment to work for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) at Redstone Arsenal working on the Redstone; Juno (space launch vehicle); Jupiter; Pershing; Saturn I, II, III, IV; and the Jupiter target vehicle in support of early Nike-X and Nike Zeus Ballistic Missile Defense interceptors. During this period, he designed a special miss distance indicator and was the lead in the design of a radar-assisted guidance system that flew on the first western world satellite.
During the 1960-1962 timeframe, while in the ABMA, Dr. Clinton began to support military and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) evaluations of Soviet missile programs. He used his understanding of U.S. missile guidance signals to explain Soviet missiles. In response to the growing foreign missile activity, the ABMA established the Missile Intelligence Office (MIO) staffed with engineers from Redstone Arsenal. Dr Clinton became the chief of the technical branch of this new organization.
Under Dr. Clinton’s leadership the MIO handled several strategic issues for the U.S. The first strategic issue for the new group was the assessment of the “strategic missile gap”. Dr Clinton led the team that established the Army position and concluded there was no missile gap. The second strategic issue for this group was the evaluation of a possible Soviet 1 DO-megaton Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Led by Dr. Clinton, MIO and the CIA demonstrated that no ICBM existed large enough to mount a 100-megaton nuclear weapon. The third strategic issue was the Cuban Missile Crisis. The CIA Director, Mr. John McCone, chose the Army missile intelligence team to lead the national team effort to evaluate the technical aspects of the Cuban missile problem. From 1962 to 1985, Dr. Clinton guided MIO, – soon to become the Missile Intelligence Agency (MIA)’s technical depth in Soviet and other foreign missile technologies and helped led MIA to have a national and international reputation for technical excellence. In 1983 Dr. Clinton was named director of the Missile Intelligence Agency (MIA) serving until 1985.
A leader in Strategic Defense Initiative public affairs, Mr. Edward Harris Vaughn was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the opening reception for the 8th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Monday evening, the fifteenth of August, 2005.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were the Honorable Robert B. Aderholt, United States House of Representatives, and Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen, Commanding General of the U. S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Mr. Vaughn joined the Army’s ballistic missile defense program and the public affairs field in 1968 and directed the public affairs activities of the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command (USASDC) and its predecessors from 1977 to July 1986. With the expansion of the command’s mission under the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), he managed the command’s Public Affairs Office located in Huntsville, Alabama until January 1997. Mr. Vaughn retired in 1997, after twenty-nine years of government service.
After working in the radio and television industry for 10 years (including a stint as news director and news anchor at WHNT-TV, Channel 19, in Huntsville), Mr. Vaughn became a script writer for the Television Department of the United States Army Missile and Munitions Center and School at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
With the several-fold expansion of the command’s mission under SDI, he headed one of the command’s two Public Affairs Offices. Though the Command was headquartered in the National Capital Region (NCR), the majority of the Command’s personnel were assigned to Huntsville. While a Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Vaughn was a spokesperson for the command, authored a number of articles, and prepared speeches for various publications and venues.
Mr. Vaughn was a dedicated employee who gave his best effort in all tasks and assignments. His superior contributions were evidenced when he was awarded the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, not once, but twice.
Mr. Vaughn was the 33rd member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
A pioneer for women in the missile and defense industry, Dr. Shelba Proffitt was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the opening reception for the 8th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Monday evening, the fifteenth of August, 2005.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were the Honorable Robert B. Aderholt, United States House of Representatives, and Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen, Commanding General of the U. S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Dr. Shelba Proffitt served as Program Manager of the Army’s National Missile Defense (NMD) Program in the Program Executive Office Air and Missile Defense (PEO AMD). She became Deputy Program Executive Officer for Air, Space, and Missile Defense (PEO ASMD). Dr. Proffitt became the first female member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) at the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command (USASDC) in Huntsville, Alabama on October 21, 1990. She culminated her stellar government career in January 2005.
Dr. Proffitt began her government career as a member of the Von Braun space team. She then joined the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) where she spent 13 years developing advanced technical weapons. In 1980, she moved to the Army’s Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC), later the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC); where she became an expert in management, communications, and space surveillance technologies.
In 1995, Dr. Proffitt became Program Manager (PM) of the Army’s NMD Program in the PEO AMD. She became the Deputy PEO AMD in February 2001- a position she held until retirement in 2005.
Dr. Proffitt has published more than 25 technical papers, holds two patents, and received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career. Dr. Proffitt attributes her success to hard work and education.
Dr. Proffitt was the 32nd member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Dr. J. Richard Fisher has held key executive positions with USASDC since 1971 and was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service (SES).
In the 1970s as Director of Technology Analysis, Fisher initiated the research in nonnuclear strategic defense concepts which operate outside the earth’s atmosphere using ground based, ABM Treaty-compliant components. One of these efforts laid the foundation for the 1984 Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE), which produced the first major accomplishment for the SDI. The HOE vehicle intercepted and destroyed a mock Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) reentry vehicle more than 100 nautical miles above the Pacific. The Exoatmospheric Reentry–vehicle Interceptor Subsystem (ERIS) further extended and refined the foundation laid by HOE for a nonnuclear, ground-based, long range interceptor. Lessons learned from HOE led to the selection of ERIS as one of the six SDI technologies to be advanced to Milestone One – Demonstration/Validation – in the major system acquisition process.
Another effort under his leadership, the Forward Acquisition Sensor (FAS), made major advances in the state-of-the-art for long wavelength infrared sensors. FAS provided the basis for the command’s Ground-based Surveillance and Tracking System (GSTS), an optical sensor rocket-launched from the ground into space on a suborbital trajectory, which was also advanced to Milestone One.
Mr. Thomas A. Perdue was project leader to organize, staff, and manage a multibillion dollar research project to develop a rapidly deployable low altitude ballistic missile defense system to defend the U.S.’s land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles from enemy attack.
His leadership and judgment are credited with being instrumental in gaining necessary Department of Defense support for the Low Altitude Defense (LoAD) project to initiate the first phase of a preprototype demonstration. LoAD represents a major thrust of the BMD Organization and is being conducted by the Systems Technology Project Office.
Perdue has been employed by BMDSCOM and its predecessor, the SAFEGUARD Systems Command, since 1962. Before being named manager of the LoAD Project, he served as Chief, Systems Technology Systems Definition Office. From 1967 to 1977, he headed the Range Safety Office for the Command’s Kwajalein Missile Range Directorate. As Chief of Range Safety, he was responsible for safety during missile launches at Wake and Johnson Island as well as Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific.
Mr. Melvin Capps served as a program director and principal technical advisor for the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for advanced research and development plans and programs for strategic and tactical survivability, lethality, advanced materials, and power technology from 1985 to August 1994.
After initial assignment to the Nike-X Project Office (a predecessor to USASDC) in 1963 as a first lieutenant, Melvin Capps began his civilian career in the same office in 1966. A nationally recognized authority on lethality and survivability related to theater and strategic defense, for over four decades, his vast experience and keen insight have provided a unique ability to identify novel and cost effective approaches for resolving critical issues and highly complex challenges associated with ballistic missile defense. His technical and managerial accomplishments resulted in his being selected to lead the Survivability, Lethality, and Key Technologies (SLKT) Directorate when it was established in 1986 within the Strategic Defense Command (SOC.) Under the leadership of Mr. Capps, survivability efforts in support of National Defense created high fidelity simulations of stressing nuclear environments and equipment responses to these environments. Another major success of Mr. Capps was the development in 1994 of a Hardware-InThe-Loop (HWIL) facility, dedicated to developing and demonstrating the means to defeat anti-radiation missiles, under controlled laboratory conditions, before conducting expensive field tests. In the Lethality program, Mr. Capp’s achievements include developing kill mechanisms for kinetic energy weapons for both strategic and tactical systems. During his distinguished government career, Mr. Capps was widely recognized for providing an outstanding, professional, and challenging work environment for his employees. He was the 29th member of the Space and Missile Defense Wall of Honor
A pioneer in the Ground Based Interceptor Project, Mr. William E. Roberson, Jr. was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of the opening reception for the 6th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center, on Tuesday, the nineteenth of August, 2003.
Assisting in the induction ceremony was Lieutenant General Joseph M. Cosumano, Jr., Commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
During his more than thirty-three year career, Mr. Roberson distinguished himself by exceptional engineering and management service to multiple missile defense program offices, culminating in positions of increasing responsibility in the Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) Joint Project Office’s (JPO) Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) Project Management Office. He was instrumental in the technical direction of the interceptor portion of the system, first through the management of the Kill Vehicle Office and ultimately as Deputy Project Manager and Acting Project Manager. His activities included the successful Integrated Flight Tests (IFT) 3 through 7.
During his tenure with GBI and its legacy programs, Mr. Roberson has faced every conceivable challenge for an acquisition manager. He met each challenge professionally, methodically, and successfully. As the Deputy Project Manager for the GBI Project Management Office, Mr. Roberson guided office activities that included the successful Integrated Flight Test (IFT) 3, in which the missile and kill vehicle successfully intercepted a target reentry vehicle. Equally challenging were IFTs 4 and 5, which, while not resulting in intercepts, did lead to valuable engineering improvements culminating with the full successes of IFTs 6 and 7 – clearly demonstrating that the nation is on track to the long sought goal of a Ballistic Missile Defense system.
Mr. Roberson distinguished himself by superior management of the GBI Office Development Division. He led the definition of requirements and all acquisition efforts for hardware, software, and office automation equipment for the division. In addition, Mr. Roberson played a key role in the development and implementation of the process that was utilized to select the prime contractor for the GBI-X concept. Mr. Roberson’s expertise and managerial competence gained him wide recognition and respect from his colleagues in both industry and Government.
Mr. Roberson was the 28th member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Dr. Pappas served as the Chief Scientist of the U S Army Space and Strategic Defense Command. He demonstrated real-time stereo processing of early warning satellite data to detect ballistic missile launches.
For over 20 years, Dr. Peter G. Pappas has made significant contributions to our Nation’s missile defense community. From 1987 through 1993, Dr. Pappas served as the Chief Scientist of the U. S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command, which merged with the Army Space Command to become the Space and Strategic Defense Command in 1992. For more than five years, he provided scientific guidance, leadership, and technical review of Army’s diverse missile defense program. One of the many major achievements during his tenure was the successful demonstration of real-time stereo processing of early warning satellite data to detect tactical ballistic missile launches. The success of this project alone resulted in a joint Army and Navy acquisition program to field tactically deployable units and an Air Force program to produce CONUS based central processor. The Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) continues to be upgraded as the United States fields new early warning satellites. His scientific leadership resulted in the selection of solid-state technology to power the next generation of missile defense radars and was instrumental in the design requirements of THAAD, the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system. Dr. Pappas recognized that missile defense must be a system of systems, not just a collection of pieces and injected that philosophy into the designs of JTAGS and THAAD. His significant contributions to the Nation’s missile defense community are further demonstrated by his leadership and participation in numerous Defense Department directed, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization sponsored studies related to space and missile defense. Highlights include a system requirements review of the THAAD anti-missile system and several studies on the defense of the US against cruise missile attacks in the post cold war environment. He also participated in several studies for the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command including an evaluation of the Navy Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and mission analysis of Kwajalein Missile Range.
A world-recognized expert in missile defense discrimination, Mr. James R. Pignataro (Deceased) was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of a reception during the 4th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center, on Tuesday, the twenty-first of August, 2001.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (Alabama) and Lieutenant General Joseph M. Cosumano, Jr., Commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Mr. James R. Pignataro is a world-recognized expert in missile defense discrimination, having made significant contributions to this field in industry and in government for over 30 years. In 1970 he attended the Seventh Congress of the International Council on Aeronautical Sciences in Rome, Italy. While serving on the staff of the Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center in Huntsville, he made many contributions to discrimination technology. The first government contract for research on the free electron laser was a result of Mr. Pignataro’s leadership of the BMDATC Active Search Program. Upon retirement in 1985, he continued to do consulting work for Teledyne Brown and Textron.
A brilliant engineer and scientist, Mr. Pignataro had a love of life and family and an intellectual curiosity that never ceased. His interests varied from photography to music and cooking. He was an avid reader, a piano player who never took a lesson and had a beautiful baritone singing voice. A true man for all seasons, he maintained his interest and love in his family and friends on a daily basis from Denmark to Texas and beyond. He and his wife, “Edna Pearl” traveled the world visiting their children, grandchildren, family, and friends. In later years, he “traveled” every day to the homes and hearts of his family and friends through the Internet. He was an adviser, teacher, mentor, and loyal friend. All who knew him knew they were in the presence of a gentleman of brilliance, compassion, and generosity.
Mr. Pignataro was the 26th member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Mr. Donald Russ, a fast senior-level Army executive, was a veteran of 20 years of government service.
Prior to being named acting director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC), he was chief of the center’s Radar Directorate, a post he assumed in October 1977. Under his leadership, significant technological advances were made in radar nuclear hardening, high-speed digital signal processing, and high—frequency millimeter wave radar. At the same time, radar costs were substantially reduced.
From March 1981 until he was named acting BMDATC director, Mr. Russ also headed a high priority effort to develop technologies for “endoatmospheric nonnuclear kill”. Or the use of interceptors without nuclear warheads to destroy hostile missiles after they have reentered the earth’s atmosphere.
From 1975 to 1977 Mr. Russ was acting director of the BMDATC Discrimination Directorate, with responsibility for planning and managing an advanced discrimination program for technology to distinguish real targets from false targets.
Mr. Russ headed the Reentry Physics Division of the Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency (ABMDA) from 1970 to 1974. ABMDA was the Army organization from which the BMD Advanced Technology Center evolved. Among other things, the position involved management of the Department of Defense Reentry Measurements Program specializing in reentry physics and radar data analysis. As a general engineer with ABMDA from 1964-1970, Mr. Russ specialized in reentry physics, reentry vehicles, and instrumentation technology and data analysis
Dr. Thomas Patton was arms control advisor for the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command (USASDC).
He served in that capacity since the position was created in 1982. As arms control advisor, Dr. Patton advised key USASDC officials of the potential impact of USASDC programs on U.S. arms control agreements. In addition, he advised the USASDC program executive officer in connection with his responsibility to ensure Army compliance with the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty.
Dr. Patton entered government service in 1962 as a general engineer with the Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. From 1965 to 1968, he worked as an aerospace technician with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. In 1968, Dr. Patton joined the Army’s Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program, working as an engineer in the Sentinel/SAFEGUARD development and deployment program until 1975. He then returned to the Army Missile Command and specialized in foreign military sales for the Hawk Project.
A pioneer in infrared optical sensors, Mr. Frank Vann was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor as a part of a reception during the 4th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference held at the Von Braun Center, on Tuesday, the twenty-first of August, 2001.
Assisting in the induction ceremony were U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (Alabama) and Lieutenant General Joseph M. Cosumano, Jr., Commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
Mr. Vann served as Program Manager (PM) for collecting missile defense data using infrared optical sensors. He was responsible for breakthroughs including Beryllium Mirrors and silicon long-wave infrared detector focal plane arrays.
Mr. Vann was the 23rd member of the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor.
Mr. Thomas Bair was employed at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), as its Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management (DCS, RM) and the ACPM for Career Program 11.
He has over 30 years of federal experience holding various positions: Army Materiel Command Intern, Systems and Cost Accountant, Deputy F&AO, Budget Officer, Budget and Accounting Officer, and Accounting Officer. He has worked for the following organizations: Tank Automotive Command, Munitions Command, Armament Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the European Division of the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Bair has a BBA from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and an MBA from the University of Detroit. He is married and has two daughters. Mr. Bair passed away on January 17, 2000.
Dr. Michael Holtcamp began his career at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Winston-Salem, NC, in 1960. In 1962, he joined NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in the early days of the Saturn rocket development.
In Dr. Holtcamp joined the Range Operations Division of the NIKE-X Test and Field Operations Directorate (later Kwajalein Missile Range Directorate), planning for ICBM tests of the NIKE X system at Kwajalein.
In 1968, Dr. Holtcamp was the lead author of an Army plan to assume management responsibilities for the Army Research Projects Agency (ARPA) reentry measurement programs at Kwajalein, known as the Kiernan Reentry Measurement Site (KREMS). The plan was approved and Dr. Holtcamp was appointed Chief of the Reentry Measurements Branch with management responsibilities for the former NIKE-ZEUS radars as well as the KREMS complex. During his tenure, the ALTAIR and ALCOR radars were developed and became operational.
In 1989, Dr. Holtcamp was the principal author of the Joint Tactical Missile Defense (JTMD) Master Plan which was approved. Dr. Holtcamp was appointed Deputy Project Manager for the new JTMD Project Office of the Program Executive Office for Air Defense.
In 1991, the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization assigned to the Army management responsibility for ARROW, on of the first international Strategic Missile Defense Programs, with the State of Israel. Dr. Holtcamp was selected as the first chartered Arrow Project Manager, serving to 1995 and completing successful demonstration/validation of the missile.
In 1995, Dr. Holtcamp was appointed Chief Engineer of the PEO for Missile Defense, in which job he served until his retirement from the US Government in 1997.
As a physicist with the U.S. Army Missile Command from 1960 to 1969, Mr. Menotti supported various ballistic missile defense research efforts sponsored by the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
His research ranged from the measurements and analysis of radar and optical data on ballistic targets to the development, wind tunnel test, and flight test of an advanced control system for an ICBM Interceptor.
In 1969, Mr. Menotti joined the Systems Analysis Division of the U.S. Army Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Agency, later renamed the BMD Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC). Afar joining the Optics Directorate of BMDATC in 1974, he directed the development, fielding, and operation of infrared and laser sensors at the Army Optical Station on the Kwajalein Missile Range.
Previously, he served as Deputy Project Manager of the Airborne Optical Adjunct (AOA) Project from 1984 to 1990. He was the principal technical manager supporting the AOA Project Manager in directing this highly complex Strategic Defense Initiative program with a budget of approximately $100 million per year. He helped guide the program though design, fabrication, integration, ground test and flight test, successfully completing its first test against intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targets at USAKA in September 1990.
Mr. A,Q, Oldacre started his career in air and missile defense systems in 1963 in a short range air defense project office, followed by an assignment in 1965 to the Systems Integration Division of the SAM-D/PATRIOT Project Office.
In 1975 he became the Systems and Operations Analysis Branch Chief and in 1980 was assigned as the Assistant Project Manager for International Programs. In 1983 he became a division chief of MICOM’s Security Assistance Management Directorate, supporting PATRIOT and other international programs. In 1986, Mr. Oldacre was selected to be the Deputy Project Manager for the PATRIOT Project Office, responsible for assisting the PATRIOT Project Manager to orchestrate the largest missile program in the U.S. Army. He was responsible for the largest international program ever undertaken by the U.S. Army and assisted in the successful negotiation and management of the largest multiyear contract every awarded by the Army. He helped guide the PATRIOT program through Desert Storm, having been with it since inception. While acting as Deputy Program Executive Officer he was the chief U.S. negotiator for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) which successfully concluded an agreement with Germany and Italy for a joint program.
Mr. Oldacre received the Secretary of Defense’s David S. Packard for Acquisition Excellence in May 1996, and has received numerous foreign awards for outstanding service from Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. He is also a registered professional engineer.
Dr. Edward Wilkinson worked the first 17 years of his career in basic solid-state research as a research physicist.
From 1965 to 1976, he performed research at the Physical Sciences Laboratory, U.S. Army Missile Command (USAMICOM), at Redstone Arsenal. This research included theoretical and experimental research in atomic photon and spin photon interactions with the crystalline field. His most notable experiments were in the area of microwave and optical spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. In his last 3 years at UASMICOM, he performed experiments in coherent optics in the areas of optical computers, holography, and laser signatures. He designed and developed a large optical facility to measure far-field laser radar cross section measurements. This facility is now recognized as a national asset.
In January 1977, he moved to the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Advanced Technology Center, where he served as a research physicist responsible for exploring the technology development of directed energy weapons. His areas of responsibility covered both particle beams and high energy lasers.
In 1979, he was assigned to the Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE) as a project engineer, and in 1981, he became the program manager. This program, which was the basis for the Strategic Defense Initiative, achieved the first exoatmospheric “hit-to-kill” intercept of a reentry vehicle at the Kwajalein Missile Range in 1984.
For the next 2 years, Dr. Wilkinson served USASSDC in several capacities to transition the USASSDC to accomplish Strategic Defense Initiative program goals. As a chief engineer, he assisted in the formulations of all the major projects in USASSDC. Next he organized and initiated three new directorates – the Survivability, Lethality and Key Technologies Directorate, the Advanced Technology Directorate, and the Kinetic Energy Weapons Directorate.
From 1970, Mr. Jerry Cavender held a variety of positions in the Army ballistic missile defense organizations, including division chief and branch chief positions.
From January 1989 until August 1992, Mr. Cavender served as the Ground-Based Surveillance and Tracking System Project Manager, directing the efforts of a comprehensive hardware development and test program designed to resolve critical technology and functional performance issues associated with exoatmospheric surveillance and tracking sensors.
From December 1989 to August 1992, he also directed the Systems Analysis/Battle Management Directorate, U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command, and was responsible for strategic defense system requirements and concepts analysis.
Mr. Cavender managed the Army National Missile Defense (ANMD) Program Office, Program Executive Office for Missile Defense. He directed the systems definition, development, and comprehensive test program associated with the ground based elements of the NMD system. The system included the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, the Ground Based Radar, and engagement planning. The Army executed the ANMD program for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
Dr. Wallace E. (Wally) Kirkpatrick joined the Army Missile Development Team at Redstone Arsenal in 1958.
He was selected in 1967 for assignment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, after which he returned to missile defense development work at Redstone Arsenal in 1969 as the Deputy Director, U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center, the organization that led the development of missile defense hit-to-kill advanced technologies. He was selected in 1979 as a Congressional Science Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He served on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, U.S. Senate. He left Civil Service in 1982.
Beginning in 1969, Dr. Kirkpatrick served as Deputy Director of the Concept Definition group that formulated system concept requirements, including life-cycle costs and schedules, for the first non-nuclear hit-to-kill missile defense system to defend hardened targets against a massive intercontinental ballistic missile attack from the Soviet Union. In 1972, he served as a member of the Army Team in an Army-Air Force competition to select the lead service to conduct a non-nuclear hit-to-kill prototype demonstration program to defend the U.S. land-based Intercontinental Range Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) deployed in hardened silos against a massive, structured attack by the Soviet Union. The Army was selected to pursue the program.
Dr. Kirkpatrick’s vision and leadership was instrumental in a historical shift in U.S. National Security Policy and force structure from exclusive reliance on offensive nuclear weapons for deterrence to a balanced offense and defense policy and force structure that included defending the United States, its interests abroad, and allies against the threat of nuclear attack. Having observed an unrelenting proliferation of nuclear weapons by the U.S. and its adversaries for an extended period, Dr. Kirkpatrick postulated that the only way to reverse the proliferation of nuclear weapons was to reduce their value. Active missile defense based on the then-maturing non-nuclear hit-to-kill missile defense technologies offered realistic and cost-effective missile defense capabilities.
Dr. Kirkpatrick conceived and led, beginning in the mid-1970s, a six-year research initiative concerning strategic missile defense. He sponsored funded research, commissioned scholarly articles by leading strategic policy experts, and convened eleven separate symposia that brought together the leading strategic thinkers in the free world to reassess the role of active missile defense in the context of the emerging strategic environment.
His pioneering work earned him the Gnosis (Greek Goddess of Knowledge) award for the most outstanding research and writing on Strategic Thought. The award was presented in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980, with prominent researchers and members of the U.S. House of Representatives in attendance. His work provided important input into President Reagan’s Star Wars speech in March 1982 in which the President called for development of active missile defense capabilities. Today, the U.S. has capable missile defense systems deployed to protect the U.S., its interests abroad, and our allies. Since 1982, significant reductions in nuclear weapons have been achieved by agreement between the U.S. and Russia.
Upon leaving Civil Service, Dr. Kirkpatrick founded DESE Research, Inc., with a focus on technical excellence and innovation. DESE has contributed to almost every major DoD missile defense program and many other key programs over the last 29+ years and has grown to over 100 people with a presence in several states. The Company and its employees have received numerous recognitions and awards and are widely recognized for qualityperformance and exceptional community support. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a highly respected community leader and advisor to members of Congress.
Ms. Lois N. Spruiell served as comptroller, U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command (USASDC) since March 1986, managing an annual budget of over $1 billion. Her federal service career began as a GS-4 clerk-stenographer with the Social Security Administration.
In March 1984, Ms. Spruiell was appointed principal assistant for management and administration, Office of the Director, U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC), one of USASDC’s predecessors. Her responsibilities included management in the areas of operations, finance, manpower, and organization.
From July 1968 until March 1984, Ms. Spruiell held increasingly responsible positions in program control and management for the BMDATC. In March 1980, she was promoted to GM-15 as chief of the BMDATC’s Program Management Office. In this position she had a key role in the financial management of some 200 contracts with an annual value of approximately $150 million, plus funding to approximately 25 other government agencies. While she was chief, the obligation rate for BMDATC program funds was maintained at approximately 99 percent, compared to an Army goal of 94 percent for research, development, technology and evaluation funds.
Ms. Spruiell graduated from Walker High, Jasper, Alabama, in 1955. She attended Walker College, 1960-61, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama, periodically from 1967 to 1974. She obtained her Master of Science in Management from Southeastern Institute of Technology, Huntsville, Alabama in August 1978. In 1977, Ms. Spruiell attended the Executive Leadership and Management Course, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia, and in 1981 completed the Professional Military Comptroller School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama.
Ms. Spruiell was active in professional organizations such as the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA) and Association of the U.S. Army. She was president of the Tennessee Valley Chapter, ADPA, during 1982-83. She also served as vice-president and member of board of directors, ADPA, and as manager of the command’s Federal Women’s Program.
Before joining government service, Mr. James Katechis was an engineer with the Thiokol Chemical Corporation where he was involved in rocket propulsion design and program management of three air-to-air guided missiles, SAFEDUARD missile rocket motors, and space application motors for the SATURN rocket.
From 1964 to 1971, Mr. Katechis was employed at the Army Missile Command on Redstone Arsenal, where he worked on HELLFIRE (helicopter fire and forget), GLCP (cannon launched guided projectile), A-LAW (advance light-tank assault weapon), and the MARS rocket artillery system.
Positions Mr. Katechis held include that of chief for interceptor research and development in the Sentry Project. In the early 1980s, Sentry was a key element in the Army’s ballistic missile defense (BMD) program. During the Vietnam War, he served as deputy project manager in the Army Aircraft Survivability Equipment Project in St. Louis, Missouri. In the early 1970s, he headed the propulsion section in the Safeguard System Command, which developed and deployed the Free World’s only operational ballistic missile defense system.
Mr. Katechis brought extensive technical and managerial expertise to his project manager position, for which he was promoted into the government’s Senior Executive Service. He has been involved in research and development of missile systems technology for most of his 30 year career, 25 of which have been with the Army.
An early inductee into the Space and Missile Defense Hall of Fame, Mr. Fred B. Stevenson passed away on 22 June 2010.
A veteran of World War II, Sergeant Stevenson served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Ocean. These campaigns took him to Luzon, the Philippine Islands, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Mindanao, and Japan. During the Korean War, 2nd Lieutenant Stevenson served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps and later taught ROTC at the University of Virginia. Mr. Stevenson’s service was recognized with Bronze Star with “V” device and oak leaf cluster.
A graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in electrical engineer, Mr. Stevenson entered the civil service in July 1955 at Redstone Arsenal. With a civilian career that spanned 23 years, he retired in May 1978. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Stevenson was the Program Manager for the Missile Site Radar, a key element in the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex, the first missile defense system deployed in the western world.
Mr. Bobby Sisco (Deceased)led the analysis team for the Sentinel Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Defense System deployment as a special assistant to the Missile Defense System Manager.
The goal of the Sentinel Program was to provide a “thin umbrella” of protection against a limited nuclear strike, such as might be launched by Communist China. After a brief retirement, Mr. Sisco returned to government service as Deputy Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC).
Mr. Sisco, one of the founding members, was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor prior to 2000.
In June 1993, Alan D. Sherer was appointed Program Manager for the Army Theater Missile Defense (ATMD) Program Office. In this capacity, he was responsible for the acquisition and deployment of a suit of TMD sensors, command and control systems, and weapons.
Mr. Sherer was member of the government’s Senior Executive Service. He held a number of increasingly responsible management positions in both industry and the government over the course of a 28-year career. Prior to assuming management of the TMD effort in 1992, he was Project Manager for the High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI) for nine years.
Alan D. Sherer was the Project Manager for the High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI), a project of the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command (USASDC). As a Department of the Army-level project manager, he is chartered by the Secretary of the Army.
Mr. Sherer was manager of the HEDI Project since 1983. This effort was a major Army contribution to the President’s Strategic Defense Initative. HEDI is a research and technology validation project for a nonnuclear interceptor which would operate in the upper reaches of the atmosphere. The prime contract for HEDI was awarded in January 1986 at a value of $383 million for a 6-year effort.
From 1977 to 1982, Mr. Sherer was employed in engineering and management positions with Huntsville firms specializing in computers and systems engineering. Earlier in the 1970’s, he was involved for several years in the Site Defense Program, which was also part of the Army’s (then) ballistic missile defense program.
A native of Jasper, Alabama, Mr. Sherer graduated from Walker School in 1955. After attending Walker College, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in 1963 and 1964, respectively. He was also a graduate of Defense Systems Management College in Washington, D.C.
As Director of the Systems Technology Project Office for the Army’s Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command in Huntsville, Mr. Richardson managed an Army antiballistic missile development program involving hundreds of millions of dollars and employing 130 people.
In this key management position, he was responsible for planning and executing a vigorous research and development program to provide the United States with deployment options for a weapons system to defend strategic targets from an enemy ballistic missile attack. The work carried out by the Systems Technology Project Office is also central to the BMD Program’s overall missions to preclude Soviet technological surprise and to support strategic arms limitation, intelligence, and strategic offensive system efforts.
During his tenure, Mr. Richardson has earned recognition for managing a highly successful technology validation program at the Systems Technology Test Facility at Kwajalein Missile Range to demonstrate the capabilities of the next-generation radar and data processor beyond SAFEGUARD. He has been instrumental in guiding this program since its conception in the early 1970s through its successful completion in 1980.
The integrated radar and data processing technology demonstrated at the Test Facility has been credited with proving beyond reasonable doubt that the United States has the capability to build an effective terminal BMD system that can detect, discriminate, and intercept intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) warheads even in the extreme environments caused by massive attacks.
Under Mr. Richardson’s leadership, the Systems Technology Project Office has also initiated two new major research and development projects–the Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE) and the Low Altitude Defense (LoAD) Preprototype Demonstration. These two concepts combined provide the nucleus of the BMD Program’s two-tiered, “Layered Defense” concept to provide the most cost-effective defense for a wide range of national-value targets.
Mr. Richardson’s managerial skills have contributed to the $245-million Homing Overlay Experiment proceeding on schedule within approved funding levels. Diligent planning and reprogramming of funds have been required to negate the impact of unprecedented inflation of test costs and schedules.
HOE is a flight test program to be performed at Kwajalein Missile Range to resolve key development issues associated with an exoatmospheric, nonnuclear, optical homing interceptor.
During 1980 Mr. Richardson set up and organized a work force to carry out the BMD Program’s newest thrust, the LoAD Preprototype Demonstration Program. The increasing vulnerability of U.S. strategic forces to Soviet attack has generated increased interest and support of the LoAD program as a possible near-term option to defend such hardened targets as MX or MINUTEMAN ICBM silos.
The $1.5-billion LoAD project will demonstrate technology from a system composed of a small phased-array radar, a small inertially guided interceptor, and a distributed data processor, deSigned to intercept an enemy ICBM under 50,000 feet during the final ten seconds of the ICBM’s flight.
Mr. Richardson served as Deputy Director of the Systems Technology (then known as the Site Defense) Project Office for a year-and-a-half before assuming the directorship. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Deputy SAFEGUARD System Manager with the SAFEGUARD System Office in Arlington, Va., from August 1971 until October 1973.
John E. Reece was director, Sentry Project Office, Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command, a position which he assumed in June 1983. Sentry is a program aimed at refining a system concept for a generic, low altitude ballistic missile defense (BMD) system for defense of U.S. military targets, such as land-based strategic missiles.
An employee of the BMD Systems Command for 12 years, Reece was the Sentry assistant project manager for engineering prior to being selected as project director. Before that, he was a special assistant to the BMD program manager. In 1980 and 1981, Reece participated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship Program, graduating with a master of science degree in management.
Reece also holds a bachelor of science degree (1962) in physics and math from Birmingham Southern College, a master of science (1964) in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a master’s degree (1971) in engineering management from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Reece worked in private industry for seven years as an engineer and senior staff engineer before beginning his government career.
Born in Birmingham, Ala., in 1941, Reece graduated from Birmingham’s West End High School in 1959. He is married to the former Elana Compton of Fairfield, Ala., and they have three children: two daughters and a son.
Throughout his 20 year government career, Dr. William Davies received numerous awards for his exceptional performance. He was the author of more than 50 publications in the fields of chemical physics, reentry physics, space flight, and strategic technology.
From 1969 through 1984, Dr. Davies headed the Ballistic Missile Defense Advanced Technology Center’s Optics Directorate. His optics program established a military capability with background sensors that operate in a space and hostile environment and formed the basis for the current SDI optical sensor surveillance concepts.
Dr. Davies was the top civilian manager of USASDC’s billion-dollar-plus annual strategic technology program. In addition, he concurrently headed the Systems Analysis and Battle Management Directorate until January 1989. In this role he led development of the first SDI battle management demonstration, global sensor network experiments for early identification of system integration issues; and the surveillance system that maintains the Army’s role in space technology.
Dr. Davies was cited for one of his many awards for “innovative leadership and dedications to the public interest that have been instrumental in establishing the systems and technology to support the President’s strategic defense vision. His personal initiative has been the driving force for technology advances that offer revolutionary improvements in surveillance and strategic defense. He has served as a catalyst for industry-university-government cooperative efforts critical to success of this complex program.”
Mr. William O. Turney served as the Chief, Contracts Office, U.S. Army SAFEGUARD System Command, during the period of July 1968 to April 1973.
He continuously displayed outstanding abilities as Chief of the Contracts Office and Chief Negotiator for the Command. During this period, he was responsible for over 2,000 contractual awards valued in excess of $4 billion. His outstanding efforts have contributed significantly to the development, procurement, production, and deployment of this nation’s ballistic missile defense system.
In 1968, after the Presidential announcement pertaining to the reconfiguration of the nation’s ABM system from SENTINEL to SAFEGUARD, Mr. Turney successfully negotiated new contractual instruments with the Western Electric Company, the system’s prime contractor. These were extremely difficult negotiations because of the major changes required, especially in the areas of cost and schedule.
Mr. Turney, serving in the capacity of technical advisor, contributed significantly in the competitive selection of a prime contractor for the Site Defense Program, a major new defense program. Following the selection process, and again under his guidance, an incentive contract was successfully negotiated with the system’s prime contractor, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company. As a result of this action this Command was commended by the Secretary of the Army.
The signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) between the US and the USSR in 1972 necessitated, again, major changes in the ABM’s contractual posture. As a result of the limitations contained in the treaty, a major effort of terminating contracts for the convenience of the Government was undertaken. Under Mr. Turney’s direction and outstanding management techniques, this effort was smoothly completed in a timely manner with the rights of Government being protected at all times.
Even with the press of everyday business, Mr. TUrney still found the time to devote considerable effort to other programs of national importance such as: Small Business, Equal Employment Opportunity and Community Action.
Mr. William A. Davis, Jr. served as Deputy Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program Manager.
As Deputy Program Manager, he shared the overall responsibility for planning and direction of the BMD Program, the Army’s only strategic program designed to keep the U.S. ahead of the Soviet Union in BMD technology and ready to develop and deploy a BMD system again, if required. He was the top civilian in the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, which operates the BMD Advanced Technology Center (BMDATC) and the BMD Systems Command (BMDSCOM), both located in Huntsville, Alabama; a small BMD Program Office in the Washington, D.C. area; and Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands. In 1980, Davis was one of twelve senior executives Army-wide to be awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in regonition of exceptional job performance.
Prior to becoming Deputy Program Manager, Mr. Davis was Director of the BMD Advanced Technology Center, planning and directing exploratory research and development of new and revolutionary BMD concepts. He was the Center’s first director, and he served in that capacity for two years.
From 1971-1975, he served as Director of the Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville Office, which subsequently formed the nucleus of the BMD Advanced Technology Center.
During the period of January 1963 to February 1972, Mr. William F. Graves served as Chief of the Missiles and Warhead Branch, Development Engineering Division, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Directorate.
In this capacity, he was responsible for organizing an industry survey team, evaluating team findings, and selecting the most capable contractors to submit proposals, organizing a team for proposal evaluation and recommending the most qualified contractor for development of the SPRINT Missile. A team of authorities in various fields was selected to evaluate initial technical decisions, to periodically review progress and the latest technical decisions. Relations were so effective and agreeable that all of these consultants continued to support the program for 9 years until development firings were completed with an outstanding record of successes.
Once the SPRINT development effort was underway, Mr. Graves applied his formidable combination of education and missile development experience to the detailed technical management of the program. Through daily contact and formal periodic reviews, effective technical management was exercised which made the SPRINT development program one of the most successful Army development programs. An example of the program’s success pertains to the planning and achievement of the first flight. The SPRINT is a very advanced design missile, and the first flight was planned to take place much earlier in the program than is usual for a missile development. As a result of Mr. Graves’ effort, this flight took place exactly on schedule and was successful. The SPARTAN Missile development program was initiated and managed in a similar manner with the same outstanding results.
Dr. Julian Davidson spent over 16 years in the ballistic missile defense program for the U.S. Government with increasing levels of responsibility culminating as the deputy ballistic missile defense program manager.
As deputy ballistic missile defense program manager his responsibilities included testifying before Congress on all matters of the U.S. ballistic missile defense programs and policy. He was also responsible for the management of an organization that consisted of several thousand personnel, controlling programs with funding levels of several billions of dollars. During his tenure with the ballistic missile defense program, Dr. Davidson was the first director of the Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency where he was responsible for all U.S. ballistic missile defense advanced technology development. Earlier, Dr. Davidson was involved with the system design of ballistic missile defenses including radar design, interceptor missile design and system engineering and integration. Dr. Davidson directed the team that developed the deployment analysis which led to the decision for the first and only deployment of ballistic missile defense in the United States.
Dr. Davidson was involved in the early U.S. Missile and Space Program. He developed instrumentation which was used on the missile that placed the first U.S. satellite into orbit.
Dr. Davidson has published extensively both in the classified and unclassified literature on missile space and missile defense technology and policy issues.
Dr. Davidson has served as both member and chairman of numerous committees and panels dealing with missiles including ballistic missile defense, military and space systems, and as the chairman of the Air Force Studies Board of the National Research Council. He has received the Army Exceptional Civilian Service Award, twice, the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and has been elected to the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command Civilian Employee Hall of Fame
Mr. Paul Phillips was associated with Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command (formerly SAFEGUARD, SENTINEL, NIKE-X, and NIKE ZEUS) since 1959 when he joined the Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
During this period he held many responsible positions. Because of his extensive technical and executive capabilities, he has played a key role in the evolution of the ABM weapons system concepts. Through the phasing of NIKE ZEUS, NIKE-X, SENTINEL into SAFGUARD, some of he achievements and contributions were: preparing the first Technical Development Plan for NIKE ZEUS, a $1.2 billion program; planning for the first ABM system; planning for the first discrimination radar; conduct of the first successful ICBM intercept; planning, developing, and testing of the ZMAR phased array radar; planning and direction of the reentry measurement program (RMP) with the Air Force and ARPA; top level coordination with the AEC in the development of warheads for SPARTAN and SPRINT; formulating a test program to exercise the system against the postulated threat by using targets flown into Kwajalein Island; and planning for the SPARTAN High Performance third stage which is now incorporated into the Improved SPARTAN.
Charles E. Richardson was assigned as Deputy Commander of the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command on 10 Oct 75.
Prior to this new assignment, Richardson served as Chief Engineer for the Command. Richardson is a veteran of the Ballistic Missile Defense Program. He started with the NIKE AJAX program in 1952 as an engineer. In 1956 he became NIKE HERCULES Project Manager for the Industrial Division, Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency (ARGMA).
In 1958, Richardson was assigned to the NIKE ZEUS Project Office in the Research and Development Division, ARGMA. Next he was assigned to the NIKE-X Project Office as Chief, Test and Range Operations Division in 1962.
As the BMD program advanced, Richardson moved to the position of Chief Engineer of the NIKE-X Project Office in 1965.
Though the names changed from NIKE-X to SENTINEL to SAFEGUARD and finally to the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command, Richardson continued as Chief Engineer until his present assignment as Deputy Commander.
A native of Aliceville, Alabama, Richardson graduated from Aliceville High School in 1943. He attended Georgia Tech for a year and then entered the U.S. Navy. Following his discharge from the Navy, Richardson entered Auburn University in 1946. He received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1949. After receiving his degree, Richardson joined Southern Bell Telephone Co. as an engineer and was assigned to Birmingham and Decatur areas. In 1951 he formed the firm of Burns and Richardson, Consulting Engineers, in Columbus, Mississippi and stayed there a year.
His civil service career started in 1952 when he was employed as an engineer with the Ordnance Missile Laboratories at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He attended the Graduate School of Business Administration at Harvard in 1965.
Ms. Bruce held various supervisory budget and program analyst positions during her tenure with the organization until her retirement from the Systems Technology Project Office in August 1979.
Ms. Sara L. Bruce (Deceased) held various supervisory, budget, and program analyst positions during her tenure with the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command until her retirement from the Systems Technology Project Office in August 1979.
Ms. Bruce, one of the founding members, was inducted into the U.S. Air, Space, and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor prior to 2000.
Rear Admiral David M. Altwegg, USN, was born February 24, 1930, in Watertown, New York, and graduated from Warsaw High School in Warsaw, New York, in 1946. He enlisted in the Navy on May 8, 1947, and after completing recruit training, he attended Aviation Electronics School in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a Fleet appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1948 and graduated with the Class of 1952. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on May 1, 1976.
His five command tours included USS MAHAN (DLG-11), USS HORNE (DLG-30), the Naval Ship Weapon Systems Engineering Station in Port Hueneme, California, the Pacific Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, California, and Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO. After more than 38 years in uniform, Rear Admiral Altwegg retired from military service on November 1, 1985, having earned numerous honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Naval Advisory Award, Second Class with rosette. He was also authorized to wear the China Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.
In addition to his education at the United States Naval Academy, Admiral Altwegg was a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Navy Nuclear Power Training Program, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Admiral Altwegg was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on January 15, 1987. He served in various Navy positions of increasing responsibility, leading the development of complex combat systems and culminating in his appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Theater Combat Systems. He reported to the Missile Defense Agency in August 2002 and served as the Deputy for Program Integration and the Deputy for Agency Operations before assuming his position as MDA’s Executive Director.
In this role, he served as the senior advisor to the Director of the Missile Defense Agency on all issues relating to the agency’s policy and management activities, including responsibility for a $9 billion annual budget and a workforce of more than 8,000 personnel across thirteen time zones. He provided oversight, leadership, mentoring, direction, and guidance to MDA functional staff and directorates, ensuring the effective integration and organization of all functions required to sustain an effective Ballistic Missile Defense System program. Admiral Altwegg also served as a key liaison to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, and members of Congress and their staffs.
In addition to his military awards, Admiral Altwegg was awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service and was twice awarded the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive. He was also honored by American University’s School of Public Affairs with the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership and received the National Defense Industrial Association’s Missile Defense Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Pathfinder Award.
Admiral Altwegg is survived by his wife, the former Rosina Squillace of Amsterdam, New York, and their daughter, Shauna Alonge.
Dr. Jan Davis (Ph.D.) is a former NASA astronaut who was born on November 1, 1953, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and considers Huntsville, Alabama, her hometown. She enjoys flying, ice skating, snow skiing, water sports, and needlework.
She graduated from Huntsville High School in 1971 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University in 1975 and 1977, respectively. She later earned both her Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1983 and 1985.
Dr. Davis is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a member of several honor societies, including Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Gamma Tau, and Alpha Xi Delta. Her many honors include the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive (2002), NASA Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award (2005), NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1998), NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1995, 2002), NASA Space Flight Medal (1992, 1994, 1997), and induction into both the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame and the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Auburn University in 1977, Dr. Davis began her career at Texaco in Bellaire, Texas, working as a petroleum engineer in tertiary oil recovery. In 1979, she joined NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center as an aerospace engineer. By 1986, she became a team leader in the Structural Analysis Division, where her team was responsible for the structural analysis and verification of the Hubble Space Telescope, its maintenance mission, and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility. She also served as lead engineer for the redesign of the solid rocket booster external tank attach ring. Her graduate research focused on the long-term strength of pressure vessels, and she holds one patent and has authored several technical papers.
Dr. Davis was selected as a NASA astronaut in June 1987. She initially worked in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch, supporting Shuttle payloads, and later served as a CAPCOM in Mission Control, communicating with Shuttle crews for seven missions. After her first spaceflight, she became the Astronaut Office representative for the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), overseeing its operations, training, and payload integration. Following her second flight, she served as Chairperson of the NASA Education Working Group and Chief of the Payloads Branch.
A veteran of three spaceflights, Dr. Davis logged over 673 hours in space. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-47 in 1992 and STS-60 in 1994, and served as payload commander on STS-85 in 1997.
After her final mission, she was assigned to NASA Headquarters as Director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Independent Assurance Office. In 1999, she transferred back to Marshall Space Flight Center as Director of the Flight Projects Directorate, where she oversaw major programs including the International Space Station Payload Operations Center and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In 2003, she became Director of Safety and Mission Assurance, responsible for the safety, reliability, and quality of all MSFC projects. She retired from NASA in October 2005 and later worked with Jacobs Sverdrup Engineering, Science, and Technical Services at MSFC.
During STS-47, launched on September 12, 1992, Dr. Davis helped conduct 43 experiments in life sciences and materials processing during an eight-day mission. STS-60, launched on February 3, 1994, marked the first Space Shuttle flight with a Russian cosmonaut onboard; during this mission, she operated the Wake Shield Facility and conducted scientific experiments. On STS-85, launched August 7, 1997, she served as payload commander, deploying and retrieving the CRISTA-SPAS payload and operating a robotic arm during a 12-day mission that traveled 4.7 million miles.
Mr. Keith L. Englander, former MDA Director for Engineering, retired in 2019 after 45 years of exemplary civilian service to the United States. His career was defined by excellence in engineering, visionary leadership, and a deep commitment to solving some of the nation’s most complex technical challenges.
Keith began his career with the Department of the Navy in 1975, where he worked on the design and development of propellant devices for rocket motors. Early on, he distinguished himself as a subject matter expert on the Space Shuttle Escape System as part of the Challenger Disaster team. He later served as Chief Engineer for the Navy’s A-6 attack aircraft before joining the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) in 1992. There, he led the Brilliant Pebbles System Engineering and Integration Directorate, tackling advanced challenges such as miniaturization that pushed the limits of 1990s technology.
By 1995, Keith had advanced to become the National Missile Defense (NMD) System Engineer and later its Technical Director. In this role, he was responsible for integrating weapons, sensors, and command systems into a unified architecture—laying the groundwork for what would become the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system protecting the U.S. homeland. He was also an early adopter of Integrated Product Teams, helping establish engineering practices that became foundational to the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).
Promoted to the Senior Executive Service in 1997, Keith served as Deputy for System Integration, where he established the analysis cell that evolved into today’s Quick Response Team, ensuring rapid and consistent performance analysis. As missile defense strategy shifted to a capability-based approach, he led the transformation of system engineering processes to support incremental and evolving system capabilities.
In 2001, Keith was selected as MDA Director of System Engineering and Integration, where he shaped the agency’s engineering framework and served as a key advisor to leadership. He led the integrated MDA Systems Engineering Team (MDSET), bringing together experts from government, industry, and research organizations to collaboratively develop and evolve the BMDS. His leadership helped establish a unified engineering approach across multiple domains.
In 2003, he became MDA Technical Director, responsible for communicating complex engineering programs to the Department of Defense, Congress, and international partners. Following the Secretary of Defense’s directive for Initial Defensive Operations in 2004, Keith led the engineering effort that enabled the first operational deployment of a national ballistic missile defense capability.
He also played a key role in the successful 2008 satellite intercept, advocating for the use of the sea-based Aegis system due to its flexibility and adaptability. His assessment led to rapid modifications and a precise intercept that potentially saved lives.
Keith contributed significantly to international missile defense efforts, including collaboration with NATO technical committees. His work supported the 2009 Strasbourg-Kehl Summit decision to deploy U.S. missile defense systems in Europe and helped shape the Phased Adaptive Approach. He also worked closely with the National Security Council and the Department of Defense to develop flexible deployment strategies for missile defense assets across allied nations.
Throughout his career, Keith maintained a strong connection to the warfighter, ensuring that engineering solutions met operational needs. In 2012, he established the Warfighter Technical Interface organization to improve coordination between MDA, combatant commands, and international partners. His leadership later contributed to MDA being designated as the Technical Authority for Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) in 2015, where he advanced cross-service interoperability through innovative modeling and simulation efforts.
He also led the development of engineering policies and processes that enabled rapid delivery of new capabilities, including the integration of THAAD and Patriot MSE systems. His work in modeling and simulation ensured accurate system testing and performance evaluation across the BMDS enterprise.
Keith received numerous prestigious awards, including three Presidential Rank Awards, the AIAA David R. Israel Award for Meritorious Achievement in International Ballistic Missile Defense, the National Defense Industrial Association Outstanding Leadership Award, and the Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award. He was also inducted into the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Academy of Excellence and the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department Academy of Excellence in 2016.
At the time of his retirement, Keith served as the agency’s senior engineering authority, responsible for resolving technical challenges across a complex, global missile defense system and acting as the primary technical advisor to national leadership and international partners.
His legacy is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence, innovative thinking, and a lasting impact on the development of a multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defense System that protects the United States, its allies, and service members around the world
Dr. Michael D. Griffin is the former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, serving as the Department of Defense’s Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he was responsible for research, development, and prototyping activities across the DoD enterprise, ensuring technological superiority for the United States military. He oversaw organizations including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Defense Innovation Unit, the DoD laboratory enterprise, and the Under Secretary’s staff focused on advancing military technology and capabilities.
Prior to this role, Dr. Griffin served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schafer Corporation, a professional services provider in the national security sector. He has also held academic positions, including King-McDonald Eminent Scholar and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His government service includes serving as Administrator of NASA and as Space Department Head at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Dr. Griffin has held numerous executive roles in industry, including President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, CEO of Magellan Systems, and Executive Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Engineer and Associate Administrator for Exploration at NASA, as well as Deputy for Technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO).
Before joining SDIO in an executive capacity, he played a key role in developing and directing several first-of-their-kind space tests in support of strategic defense research and flight testing. These included the first space-to-space intercept of a ballistic missile in powered flight, the first broad-spectrum spaceborne reconnaissance of targets and decoys in midcourse flight, and the first space-to-ground reconnaissance of ballistic missiles during the boost phase. He also contributed to multiple space missions at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Dr. Griffin has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and George Washington University, covering subjects such as spacecraft design, applied mathematics, guidance and navigation, compressible flow, computational fluid dynamics, spacecraft attitude control, estimation theory, astrodynamics, mechanics of materials, and aerospace engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in California and Maryland, the lead author of approximately two dozen technical papers, and the author of the textbook Space Vehicle Design.
He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of Astronautics, a Fellow and former president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His many honors include the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the AIAA Space Systems Medal, the Goddard Astronautics Award, the National Space Club’s Goddard Trophy, the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement, the Missile Defense Agency’s Ronald Reagan Award, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal—the highest award granted to a non-government employee. In recognition of his contributions to the Pluto New Horizons mission, Asteroid 159999 Michaelgriffin was named in his honor.
Dr. Griffin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Johns Hopkins University as a Maryland Senatorial Scholar. He holds multiple master’s degrees in aerospace science (Catholic University), electrical engineering (University of Southern California), applied physics (Johns Hopkins University), civil engineering (George Washington University), and business administration (Loyola University). He received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Florida Southern College and the University of Notre Dame.
In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Griffin is a 5,000-hour commercial pilot and flight instructor with instrument and multiengine ratings, and he holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio license.
The Original Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall (1996-2004) located in the USASMDC Hallway of the second floor at 106 Wynn Drive, Huntsville, Alabama.
On 10 March 2005, ASMDA presented a new Space and Missile Defense Distinguished Civilians Wall located in the USASMDC lobby of Building 1050, RSA.
ASMDA is a nonprofit, charitable, and private foundation organized and operated under Internal Revenue Service Section 501(c)(3) for educational and charitable purposes.
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ASMDA is a nonprofit, charitable, and private foundation organized and operated under Internal Revenue Service Section 501(c)(3) for educational and charitable purposes.
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