Career Information

I was born and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where my engineering career began with an early interest in airplanes and space flight. In grade school during the 1950's, I read science fiction stories, watched sci-fi movies, built a lot of models and flew paper airplanes, kites, wooden gliders, and rubberband-powered aircraft. In high school in the early 1960's, I was pretty good at math, science, and reading (English), and built a toy computer for a science fair project. In 1965 I entered Ohio State University majoring in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. I graduated in 1971 with Bachelor's and Master's of Science Degrees. As a graduate student, I created a computer model of the flow of blood through the capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the body.

From 1971 to 1975 I served in the United States Air Force. I was assigned as a project engineer in the Inlet Aerodynamics Group of the Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. It was a very busy and exciting time as I participated in the wind tunnel testing and performance assessment for the B1-A, F-16, and YF-17 (later to become the Navy F-18). I was also on the source selection team for the Air Combat Fighter (F-16) and the EF-111 and was involved in performance predictions of the F5-E, Airborne Command Post, and AC-130 gunship. When my military service time was completed, I returned to Ohio State to work on a Ph.D, passed my general exams, but did not submit a dissertation. I twice applied to become an astronaut, but was not selected.

In 1978, I accepted a job at the NASA Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and have worked here ever since. Early in my career, I built and used computational models for flow through hypersonic propulsion systems and microgravity flow experiments. More recently, I have developed interactive computer programs and several web sites to help students learn about math and science. I often participate in videoconferencing workshops with both teachers and students, and I like to attend air shows and exhibits to meet the public.

Current Work

I have an interest in history and during the recent 100th anniversary of the Wright brother's first flight, I've worked with our Office of Educational Programs to celebrate the big event. I've built computer models of the Wright aircraft and interactive simulators of their flight control systems and wind tunnel. I have given a number of presentations around the country as Wilbur Wright, with Roger Storm, a science teacher from Fairview Park High School, as Orville. In these presentations, we describe the six year process which lead from early kite experiments to the first practical aircraft.

Navigation..

Re-Living the Wright Way

Learning Technologies Home Page

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12

NASA Glenn Home Page

http://www.grc.nasa.gov

NASA Home Page

http://www.nasa.gov