International Space Development
Conference
African Americans in Space
Plenary Panel
Hildreth "Hal" Walker
Hildreth "Hal" Walker, Jr. has won fame as an innovative thinker, collaborator and role model, in the realm of energy technology, especially in applications of lasers.In 1962, working for Union Carbide's Laser Systems division, he led a team that adapted a ruby laser for measuring the distance from the Earth to the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Walker's team trained a laser beam from Lick Observatory in California at a reflector mirror, only 18 inches wide, that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had set up on the Moon's surface. Walker's team recorded by far the most accurate measurement of the distance ever, exact to within 5 meters. The equipment used for the experiment is now on permanent exhibit in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Walker went on to join Hughes Aircraft, where he developed the first laser targeting systems for the US Army (1981). Since retiring from Hughes, Walker has founded his own international laser systems consulting firm, Tech Plus (1990), and co-founded, with his wife, Bettye, the African-American Male Achievers Network, Inc., or A-MAN (1991), which uses hands-on demonstrations and extracurricular projects to encourage and support boys' and girls' interests in careers in math, science and business.
When he is not lecturing or consulting, Walker continues to innovate. For one of his recent projects, building a workable nationwide support system for battery-operated vehicles, he helped invent an automated battery replacement system (1991). Ever mindful of the obstacles that he himself surmounted, Hal Walker uses his expertise in technology to advance, not just science, but society.
Patricia Grace Smith
Patricia G. Smith serves as Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation within the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), heading the office responsible for overseeing and regulating the U.S. commercial space transportation industry.During her career at DOT and FAA, the U.S. commercial launch industry has experienced significant growth and change: technological and infrastructure developments such as commercial spaceports; reusable launch vehicle technology and ocean-based launch platforms; as well as significant U.S. and international market growth and increased international partnerships. She also initiated and fostered greater cooperation and partnerships between aviation and space functions in the agency.
Ms. Smith's work has contributed significantly to help FAA keep pace with the rapid changes affecting the industry. She has worked extensively to develop new and updated licensing and insurance regulations for commercial launch operations, as well as working to ensure that the industry remains a leader in a growing, internationally competitive marketplace.
Ms. Smith began her career at the Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) in November 1994, as Associate Managing Director. In 1995, she became OCST's Chief of Staff. In November 1995, OCST was transferred from DOT's Office of the Secretary to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an additional FAA line of business. With this transfer, Ms. Smith was named Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST), joining the ranks of FAA's Senior Executive Service. In February 1997, Ms. Smith was named Acting Associate Administrator for AST; in June 1998, Ms. Smith was named FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
From 1980 to 1994, Ms. Smith held important leadership positions within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She first served as Chief of FCC's Consumer Assistance and Small Business Office, Office of Public Affairs and later as Deputy Director for Policy, Office of the Managing Director. In addition to her principle responsibilities, Ms. Smith worked on several major initiatives on behalf of the agency among them as executive committee team member for the FCC Spectrum Auctions Implementation Team that produced the very first and largest auction of US assets in history. Ms. Smith, along with her team members, received Vice President Gore's Hammer Award.
Ms. Smith also held positions at the Department of Defense, Defense Communications Agency, Acquisition Policy Office, where she produced two major staff studies on the Department's contracting activities, and at the Senate Commerce Committee where she produced an economic study in support of a major piece of legislation.
Ms. Smith received her B.A. degree from Tuskegee University and did graduate work at Auburn University, George Washington University, and Harvard University School of Business. In 1996, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from her undergraduate alma mater. She is the recipient of numerous other awards and has served on several boards.
Captain Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (USN)
Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office. He is a veteran of two space flights, STS-85 in 1997 and STS-98 in 2001, and has logged over 593 hours in space, including over 19 EVA hours during three spacewalks. Curbeam served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) responsible for relaying all voice communication between Mission Control and crews aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, CAPCOM Branch Chief, and Payloads Group Lead, responsible for representing the crew office in the design, training and operation of on orbit experiments. During the spring of 2002, he served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance, at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Currently, Curbeam is assigned to the crew of STS-116, and serves as the Safety Branch Chief for the astronaut office.Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Curbeam commenced Naval Flight Officer training in 1984. In 1986 he reported to Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) and made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, and the Arctic and Indian Oceans on board the USS Forrestal (CV-59). During his tour in VF-11, he also attended Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun). Upon completion of Test Pilot School in December 1991, he reported to the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate where he was the project officer for the F-14A/B Air-to-Ground Weapons Separation Program. In August 1994, he returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor in the Weapons and Systems Engineering Department.
Captain Curbeam's first mission was STS-85 (August 7-19, 1997) was a 12-day mission during which the crew deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm, studied changes in the Earth's atmosphere and tested technology destined for use on the future International Space Station. The mission was accomplished in 189 Earth orbits, traveling 4.7 million miles in 284 hours and 27 minutes.
His second mission was STS-98 (February 7-20, 2001) continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The Shuttle spent seven days docked to the station while Destiny was attached. In helping to complete its assembly Curbeam logged over 19 hours EVA hours in 3 space walks. The crew also relocated a docking port, and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes.
Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.Tyson's professional research interests include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. Tyson obtains his data from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as from telescopes in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the Andes Mountains of Chile.
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of the US Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a 9-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. The objectives of the NSBE Space Special Interest Group are derived directly from select recommendations within this report that intersect with the NSBE mission. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Committee, which will help guide NASA through its perennial need to fit its ambitious vision into its restricted budget.
Tyson is the recipient of seven honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid "13123 Tyson". On the lighter side, Tyson was voted "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" by People Magazine in 2000.
Dr. Augustine Esogbue
Augustine O. Esogbue Ph.D. is a full professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and director of the Intelligent Systems and Controls Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In addition, he is a distinguished visiting research professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing , China and an honorary professor at Daqing Petroleum Institute in the Heilongjiang Province, China. He is recognized as one of the world's leading experts in dynamic programming, fuzzy logic and intelligent control, and the application of operations research and management sciences. Dr. Esogbue is also the only African American member of NASA's Safety Advisory Panel.Prior to joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 1972 as an associate professor in industrial and systems engineering under a joint appointment with the Health Systems Research Center, Esogbue was a chancellor's distinguished professor of industrial engineering and operations research and management sciences at the University of California, Berkley and an assistant professor of operations research and a member of the Systems Research Center at Case Western Reserve University on Cleveland.
Esogbue holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics from the University of California , Berkeley , a master's degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in engineering operations research and control theory from the University of Southern California . He has also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a certificate in advance health systems dynamic modeling. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Nigerian Academy of Sciences and Kerr L. White Institute for Health Services Research.
Dr. Esgobue has been a member of NSBE's National Advisory Board since the 1980s. He currently serves as an advisor to the programs zone with a focus on the awards committee and academic excellence programs.
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