Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
L. -
Resume and Biographical Information
HERBERT A. WILSON, JR.
3 Holly Drive
Newport News, Virginia 23601
SUMMARY
Born January 14, 1914, in Inverness, Mississippi, Wilson lived most
of his early life in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was graduated
from Jackson Central High School in 1930. In this year he also won
the Thomas A. Edison Scholarship Contest for the State of Mississippi
and competed in the National contest at Edison's Laboratories in East
Orange, New Jersey.
In June 1934 he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Aero
nautical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he
was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma social fraternity.
He joined the staff of the former National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics (now the National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
at the Langley Research Center in 1937 as an Aeronautical Research
Engineer. In 1943 he was appointed Head of the Full-Scale Wind Tunnel
and in 1948 Wilson was selected to head the group responsible for the
design, construction, and operation of the Langley Unitary Plan Wind
Tunnel. The tunnel is a $16, 000, 000 aerodynamic laboratory. In
1954 a division was established to operate the facility and Wilson was
appointed as its Division Chief. In May 1961 Wilson was appointed
Manager of the Flight Reentry Programs Office (Project FIRE).
This project successfully launched a highly instrumented spacecraft
in a 25, 000+ mph Earth reentry trajectory to provide key heating
information for the Apollo command module.
Upon completion of Project FIRE, Wilson was appointed Chief of the
Applied Materials and Physics Division (now Space Technology Division)
in June 1964. Wilson was appointed Assistant Director for Space in
October 1970. The Space Directorate consists of the Space Systems
Division, Space Technology Division, the Scout Project, and the
Environmental and Space Sciences Division.
He retired from NASA in June of 1972; however, at the request of
NASA Headquarters he was reappointed immediately to the post of
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. (cont'd. ) , Page 2 of 9
Langley Director of Space Research and Technology to assist with the
Headquarter's phases of the SPAce Research and Technology (SPART)
Study. This activity will be completed in mid-August 1972. •
•
He is author of NASA reports, notes, and research memorandums
and has delivered numerous summary papers on broad space fields
at technical conferences both here and abroad.
Wilson was presented, the NASA Exceptional Service Award in October
1966 and Langley!s Special Service Award for Outstanding Leadership
in February 1966. He is a recipient of the Apollo Achievement Award
presented in July 1969.
Wilson has served with distinction on numerous Agency-wide boards,
panels and investigating committees. He has been active in numerous
community activities, principally the Peninsula Orchestra Association
and the Peninsula United Fund. In 1963 he became a member of the
board of directors of the Peninsula Savings and Loan Association.
Wilson is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics, and a member of the Engineers1 Club of the Virginia
Peninsula.
He is married to the former Genevieve E. Ingraham. They reside at
3 Holly Drive, Newport News, Virginia. They have a daughter and a
son, both now graduated from college.
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. -Page 3 of 9
Detailed Information
Biographical:
Born: Inverness, Mississippi, January 14, 1914
Son of Herbert A. and Nellie J. Wilson
Married: Genevieve E. Ingraham, June 3, 1941
Children: Louisa P. , and Herbert Alexander, III
Education:
Jackson Central High, Jackson, Mississippi, 1930
Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S. in Aeronautical
Engineering, 1934
Numerous extension courses at graduate level and specialist
courses during career
Details of Positions Held:
Employed by NASA, Langley Research Center,
Langley Station, Hampton, Virginia.
Positions held as follows:
Oct. 1970 Assistant Director for Space. The Space $34,000/yr
to Directorate consisted of 330 people including to
June 1972 275 professionals distributed in the Space $35, 850/yr
Technology Division, Environmental and
Space Sciences Division, Space Systems
Division, and the Scout Project Office.
Altogether, there were approximately 30
major program funding areas involved in the
research of the Space Directorate with the
total budget approxirra tely 25 to 30 million.
The Directorate conducted a broad inter
disciplinary space research program to provide
the scientific and technological knowledge
required for both manned and unmanned
exploration and exploitation of space. Responsible,
as delegated by the Director, for the organization
of programs to support Agency goals in both basic
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 4 of 9
Employment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Assistant Director for Space cont'd.
and applied research - particularly where it was
necessary to assemble interdisciplinary and
interorganizational groups. Also assisted the
Director for Space, and in his absence acted
for him, in over-all direction, research program
planning, progress reporting, and allocation of
resources for the divisions. Served as a
specialist in technical disciplines of life support
systems, reentry technology, and environmental
observations technology in various program
reviews; served frequently on NASA-wide panels
such as the NASA Planning Panel on Space
Technology, the NASA Acquisition Study Project
Planning Panel, Observer on the NASA (OSSA)
Launch Vehicle Review Board and representative
of the Center at Research and Technology
Advisory Committee meetings as program require
ments dictated; acted as chairman of special
committees for the Center Director, such as
Chairman of the Langley Space Science and
Technology Steering Committee and Chairman
of the Operational Readiness Review Committee
for the 90-Day Test of the Life Support System.
During the past year (1971) also served as the -
Chairman of the Accident Investigating Committee
for the explosion of the 9 x 6 ft. tunnel air storage
field. Recommendations resulting from this
study have led to an NASA-wide re-examination of
the safety of its older facilities. Starting in April,
and continuing to the present, served as the
Langley Director of the Space Research and
Technology Study. At present in a retired but
specially re-employed status to assist in the
completion of the study at NASA Headquarters.
June 1964 Chief, Applied Materials and Physics
to Division. In charge of the research program
Oct. 1970 and allocation of resources for division of
approximately 250 people in 7 branches
$19,000/yr
to
$33,400/yr
f;'■— .l
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 5 of 9
May 1961
to
June 1964
Employment by Langley Research Center contTd.
Chief, Applied Materials and Physics Division contTd.
covering such disciplines as aerothermo-
dynamics, solid rocket propulsion, space
environment, chemistry, physics, biology.
Management of all LRC Scout-launched and
smaller space vehicles. Total program
approximately $15 x 10". Responsible for
organization and programs to support Agency
goals in both basic and applied research. This
required ability to assemble interdisciplinary
groups covering widest possible range of
science and technology. Served as consultant
• to the Agency on organizational matters v
involving both the Applied Materials and Physics
Division and large flight projects. Served as
review chairman for all small flight project
and member of review board for larger ones
such as Lunar Orbiter. Occasionally served as
chairman of NASA-wide committees such as
special review committee for Pegasus Project.
Manager, Flight Reentry Programs Office. $l6,000/yr
Responsible for the concept, planning and to
execution of Project FIRE an approximately $19,000/yr
$30, 000, 000 flight research project to launch a
highly instrumented research payload into a
37,000+ fps reentry trajectory - the highest
ever accomplished with such a spacecraft. This
involved the coordination of a Nation-wide project
complex including both contractors and other
government agencies and factory as well as
field support operations. Required setting up
initial organization, planning conduct of the
program, negotiation with agencies responsible
for systems and subsystems such as the Atlas
launch vehicle and the LTV velocity package to
determine the level of support to be provided
and the monitoring of all activities to insure that
this was accomplished. First launch successful,
April 1964, 29 months after project approval.
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 6 of 9
Aug. 1954
to
May 1961
Feb. 1948
to
Aug. 1954
Employment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Chief of Unitary Wind Tunnel Division. $11,000
Reporting to Dr. Floyd L. Thompson, to
Director, Langley Research Center. $16,000
Responsible for the direction of the division
in charge of the Langley Unitary Plan Super
sonic Wind Tunnel, one of the largest and
most powerful supersonic wind tunnels in the
United States. Responsible for the program
of research and development in support of
the NASA (formerly NACA) programs as well as
those of the Navy and Air Force upon their
request. Required negotiation of test
programs with requesting agencies as well
as knowledge of the aerodynamic principles
involved in the research programs under
taken. Planned programs in advanced supersonic
aerodynamics with emphasis on stability and
control and heating effects of aircraft,
missiles, and spacecraft. Responsible for
division budget, manpower resource require
ment projections and allocations, and cost
minimization of facility operation. Served as
chairman of Center-wide panel to plan reentry
experiment at superorbital speeds. Scout
reentry program and Project FIRE were out
growths of committee actions.
Head of Unitary Plan Design Group. In charge
of directing the' design and construction of
the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. Upon
completion in 1954 this 100,000 hp, Mach 5,
tunnel was the most powerful wind tunnel
in the world. Required a broad knowledge of
aerodynamics as well as design of structural,
mechanical, and electrical systems required to
be integrated. Made trade-off studies of
systems for cost effectiveness. Management
responsibility for making (subject to reviews)
final decisions on all aspects of design and
$7000/yr
to
$ll,000/yr
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 7 of 9
Employment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Head of Unitary Plan Design Group cont'd.
construction. Responsible for budgeting,
preparing material for presentation to
Bureau of Budget and Congress. Attended
hearings in support of Headquarters personnel.
Served on panel to review design of all NACA
Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel facilities.
Sept. 1943 Head, Full-Scale Tunnel Section. Super- $7000/yr
to vised the activities of from 25 to 40
Feb. 1948 scientists and technicians both admin
istratively and technically. Research work
during this period consisted of the origination,
direction, and execution of numerous research
programs. The most significant of these
dealt with the fields of helicopter research and
of the landing problems of high-speed air
craft. Numerous reports and memorandums
resulting from these activities were published
and made available to the aricraft industry.
Prepared papers for NACA-Industry con
ferences on such subjects as personal aircraft
research, boundary layer control, and transonic
airplane design. Served as member of the
NACA Subcommittee on Helicopters.
Feb. 1937 Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Section. Entered $2000/yr
to as a junior engineer. Held positions of
Sept. 1943 increasing responsibility in the field of
wind tunnel research on lift, drag, and
stability of airplane configurations and
cowling and cooling problems of World '
War II advanced aircraft.
Pre-NASA (NACA) employment
1936-37 Riverside Military Academy, Gainesville, $13lO/yr
Georgia, instructor in math, aviation, and
military science
L j
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr.
Pre-NASA (NACA) employment cont'd
1935 Structural Steel Draftsman for Mississippi
Steel and Iron Company
*
1935 Instrument man on highway survey party
for Mississippi Highway Department
1934-35 Office Manager, Washington National
Insurance.Company, Jackson, Mississippi,
general accounting and bookkeeping duties
Page 8 of 9
$900/yr
$900/yr
$900/yr
l_—_ . til
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 9 of 9
Honors and Awards:
Recipient, Edison Scholarship Award, State of Mississippi, 1930.
Langley Research Center Special Service Award for Outstanding
Leadership, Feb. 1966 (NASA).
NASA Exceptional Service Medal, .1966. „
Apollo Achievement Award presented in July, 1969 (NASA)
Membership and Offices:
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate
Fellow
Engineers Club of the Virginia Peninsula
Peninsula Orchestra Association, Director, 1949-63, 1966-to present;
President, 1955-57. Director, Peninsula Savings and Loan Association,
1963-to present. Member of Board of Advisors, Hampton Roads
Junior League, 1958-60. Trustee, Peninsula United Fund 1955-67.
President, Director, Peninsula Health Foundation 1958-61. James
River Country Club (Newport News, Virginia). Hampton Roads
German Club. Peninsula Arts Association 1962-, charter member
and trustee 1962-66. Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Authorship:
Author of various NACA (now NASA) reports, notes and research
memoranda; delivered summary papers on aerodynamics at NACA
technical conferences. Delivered summary paper on flight testing
of materials at 7th International Congress of Aeronautics and Space
on the Problems of the" Structures of Aircraft and Missiles, Paris,
France, 1965; author of article on Sonic Boom, Scientific American,
January 1962; presented paper on "Rockets for Research" at 8th
International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Tokyo,
Japan, August 1969.
Listed in;
Who's Who in Engineering
Who's Who in Space
Who's Who in the South and Southeast
The Two Thousand Men of Achievement - 1970
Dictionary of International Biography, Fourth Edition
7/5/72
I
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. 3 of 9
Detailed Information
Biographical:
Born: Inverness, Mississippi, January 14, 1914
Son of Herbert A. and Nellie J. Wilson
Married: Genevieve E. Ingraham, June 3, 1941Children: Louisa P. , and Herbert Alexander, III
Education:
Jackson Central High, Jackson, Mississippi, 1930Georgia Institute of Technology, B. S. in Aeronauhcal
-■•
courses at graduate leve! and specialist
courses during career
Details of Positions Held:
Oct. 1970
to
June 1972
Employed by NASA, Langley Research Center,
Langley Station, Hampton, Virginia.
Positions held as follows:
Assistant Director for Space, The Space—^^Tc^^eTof330 people including
275 professionals distributed in the Space
Technology Division, Environmental and
Space Sciences Division, Space Systems
Division, and the Scout Project Office.Altogether, there were approximately■ iU
major program funding areas involved m theresearch of the Space Directorate with the
total budget approxirra tely 25 to 30 million.The Directorate conducted a broad inter-
disciplinary space research program to providethe scientific and technological knowledge
for both manned and unmanned
$34,000/yr
to
$35,850/yr
of programs to support Agency g fa
Herbert A, Wilson, Jr. Page 4 of 9
June 1964
to
Oct. 1970
Kmtilovment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Assistant Director for Space cont'd.
and applied research - particularly where it was
necessary to assemble interdisciplinary and
interorganizational groups. Also assisted the
Director for Space, and in his absence acted
for him, in over-all direction, research program
planning, progress reporting, and allocation of
resources for the divisions. Served as a
specialists technical disciplines of life supportsystems, reentry technology, and environmental
observations technology in various program
reviews; served frequently on NASA-wide panels
such as the NASA Planning Panel on Space
Technology, the NASA A«luis"ion S^osSaTPlanning Panel, Observer on the NASA (OSSA)Launch Vehicle Review Board and representative
of the Center at Research and TechnologyAdvisory Committee meetings as program require
ments dictated; acted as chairman of specialcommittees for the Center Director, such as
Chairman of the Langley Space Science andTechnology Steering Committee and Chairman
of the Operational Readiness Review Committee
for the 90-Day Test of the Life Support System.
During the past year (1971) also served as theChairman of the Accident Investigating Committee
ft the explosion of the 9 x 6 ft. tunnel air storagefield Recommendations resulting from this
stady have led to an NASA-wide re-examination of£ safety of its older facilities. Starting- April,and continuing to the present, served as theLangley Director of the Space Research and
y , . _r-sent in a retired butTechnology Study. At pie sent in
specially re-employed status to assist m thecompletion of the study at NASA Headquarters.
—[^cation of resources for
approximately 250 people in 7 branches
$l9,000/yr
to
$33,400/yr
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 5 of 9
Employment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Chief, Applied Materials and Physics Division cont'd.
covering such disciplines as aerothermo-
dynamics, solid rocket propulsion, space
environment, chemistry, physics, biology.
Management of all LRC Scout-launched and
smaller space vehicles. Total program
approximately $15 x 10°. Responsible for
organization and programs to support Agency
goals in both basic and applied research. This
required ability to assemble interdisciplinary
groups covering widest possible range of
science and technology. Served as consultant
to the Agency on organizational matters
involving both the Applied Materials and Physics
Division and large flight projects. Served as
review chairman for all small flight project
and member of review board for larger ones
such as Lunar Orbiter. Occasionally served as
chairman of NASA-wide committees such as
special review committee for Pegasus Project.
May 1961 Manager, Flight Reentry Programs Office.
to Responsible for the concept, planning and
June 1964 execution of Project FIRE an approximately
$30, 000, 000 flight research project to launch a
highly instrumented research payload into a
37,000+ fps reentry trajectory - the highest
ever accomplished with such a spacecraft. This
involved the coordination of a Nation-wide project
complex including both contractors and other
government agencies and factory as well as
field support operations. Required setting up
initial organization, planning conduct of the
program, negotiation with agencies responsible
for systems and subsystems such as the Atlas
launch vehicle and the LTV velocity package to
determine the level of support to be provided
and the monitoring of all activities to insure that
this was accomplished. First launch successful,
April 1964, 29 months after project approval.
$l6,000/yr
to
$l9,000/yr
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 6 of 9
Aug. 1954
to
May 1961
Feb. 1948
to
Aug. 1954
Employment by Langley Research Center cont'd.
Chief of Unitary Wind Tunnel Division. $11,000
Reporting to Dr. Floyd L. Thompson, to
Director, Langley Research Center. $16,000
Responsible for the direction of the division
in charge of the Langley Unitary Plan Super
sonic Wind Tunnel, one of the largest and
most powerful supersonic wind tunnels in the
United States. Responsible for the program
of research and development in support of
the NASA (formerly NACA) programs as well as
those of the Navy and Air Force upon their
request. Required negotiation of test
programs with requesting agencies as well
as knowledge of the aerodynamic principles
involved in the research programs under
taken. Planned programs in advanced supersonic
aerodynamics with emphasis on stability and
control and heating effects of aircraft,
missiles, and spacecraft. Responsible for
division budget, manpower resource require
ment projections and allocations, and cost
minimization of facility operation. Served as
chairman of Center-wide panel to plan reentry
experiment at superorbital speeds. Scout
reentry program and Project FIRE were out
growths of committee actions.
Head of Unitary Plan Design Group. In charge
of directing the' design and construction of
the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. Upon
completion in 1954 this 100, 000 hp, Mach 5f
tunnel was the most powerful wind tunnel
in the world. Required a broad knowledge of
aerodynamics as well as design of structural,
mechanical, and electrical systems required to
be integrated. Made trade-off studies of
systems for cost effectiveness. Management
responsibility for making (subject to reviews)
final decisions on all aspects of design and
$7000/yr
to
$ll,000/yr
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 7 of 9
Employment t<Y Langley Research Center cont'd.
Head of Unitary Plan Design Group cont'd.
construction. Responsible for budgeting,
preparing material for presentation to
" Bureau of Budget and Congress. Attended
hearings in support of Headquarters personnel.
Served on panel to review design of all NACA
Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel facilities.
Sept. 1943 Head, Full-Scale Tunnel Section. Super- $7000/yrto vised the activities of from 25 to 40
Feb. 1948 scientists and technicians both admin
istratively and technically. Research work
during this period consisted of the origination,
direction, and execution of numerous research
programs. The most significant of these
dealt with the fields of helicopter research and
of the landing problems of high-speed air
craft. Numerous reports and memorandums
resulting from these activities were published
and made available to the aricraft industry.
Prepared papers for NACA-Industry con
ferences on such subjects as personal aircraft
research, boundary layer control, and transonic
airplane design. Served as member of the
NACA Subcommittee on Helicopters.
Feb. 1937 Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Section. Entered $2000/yrto " as a junior engineer. Held positions of
Sept. 1943 increasing responsibility in the field of
wind tunnel research on lift, drag, and
stability of airplane configurations and
cowling and cooling problems of World
War II advanced aircraft.
Pre-NASA (NACA) employment
1936-37 Riverside Military Academy, Gainesville, $l310/yrGeorgia, instructor in math, aviation, and
military science
L....J
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr.
Pre-NASA (NACA) employment cont'd
!935 Structural Steel Draftsman for Mississippi
Steel and Iron Company
m
1935 Instrument man on highway survey party
for Mississippi Highway Department
1934-35 Office Manager, Washington National
Insurance.Company, Jackson, Mississippi,
general accounting and bookkeeping duties
Page 8 of 9
$900/yr
$900/yr
$900/yr
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. Page 9 of 9
Honors and Awards:
Recipient, Edison Scholarship Award, State of Mississippi, 1930.
Langley Research Center Special Service Award for Outstanding
Leadership, Feb. 1966 (NASA).
NASA Exceptional Service Medal, .1966.
Apollo Achievement Award presented in July, 1969 (NASA)
Membership and Offices:
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate
Fellow
Engineers Club of the Virginia Peninsula
Peninsula Orchestra Association, Director, 1949-63, 1966-to present;
President, 1955-57. Director, Peninsula Savings and Loan Association,
1963-to present. Member of Board of Advisors, Hampton Roads
Junior League, 1958-60. Trustee, Peninsula United Fund 1955-67.
President, Director, Peninsula Health Foundation 1958-61. James
River Country Club (Newport News, Virginia). Hampton Roads
German Club. Peninsula Arts Association 1962-, charter member
and trustee 1962-66. Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Authorship:
Author of various NACA (now NASA) reports, notes and research
memoranda; delivered summary papers on aerodynamics at NACA
technical conferences. Delivered summary paper on flight testing
of materials at 7th International Congress of Aeronautics and Space
on the Problems of the' Structures of Aircraft and Missiles, Paris,
France, 1965; author of article on Sonic Boom, Scientific American,
January 1962; presented paper on "Rockets for Research" at 8th
International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, Tokyo,
Japan, August 1969.
Listed in;
Who's Who in Engineering
Who's Who in Space
Who's Who in the South and Southeast
The Two Thousand Men of Achievement - 1970
Dictionary of International Biography, Fourth Edition
7/5/72