Crosslink Winter 2003 Contributors
Evolution of the Inertial Upper Stage
W. Paul Dunn, Principal Director, Launch Systems Analysis Directorate, joined Aerospace in
1977 and has led the work on a number of vehicle systems, including medium launch vehicles, the Inertial Upper
Stage, other upper stages, propulsive systems, vehicle systems integration, and launch systems analysis. Among
his many honors is the Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, the highest
award given by the College of Engineering. Dunn earned a B.S. in civil engineering at UT, an M.S. in civil
engineering at California State University, Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. from California State University,
Dominguez Hills (wpaul.dunn@notes.aero.org).
Epic Proportions: The Titan Launch Vehicle
Art Falconer, Principal Director, Titan Launch Verification, is responsible for ensuring Titan systems have been independently verified as flightworthy and ready for launch. He has more than 37 years
of experience with launch vehicles, and for the past 16, has supported the Titan program in the areas of vehicle
design, qualification, test, satellite integration, and launch operations. He has a B.S. in mechanical
engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has been with Aerospace for 23 years (arthur.m.falconer@notes.aero.org).
Ballistic Missiles and Reentry Systems: The Critical Years
Richard Hartunian joined Aerospace in 1960, establishing the aerophysics department in the Aerodynamics and Propulsion Research Laboratory. He served as
general manager of the Reentry Systems Division from 1968 to 1976, when he was named vice president of Space
Launch Operations. During his nine years in that position, he certified 130 launches of Atlas, Delta, and Titan
vehicles and was responsible for Aerospace support of Air Force contributions to the space shuttle program. He
received a B.S. in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in aeronautical sciences from
Cornell University. He was elected a fellow of AIAA in 1983 (richard.a.hartunian@notes.aero.org).
The Path to Mission Success: The Aerospace Role in Launch Certification
Ray Johnson, Vice President, Space Launch Operations, is responsible for Aerospace support to Air Force launch programs, including Titan II, Titan IV, Delta II,
Pegasus, Inertial Upper Stage, and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, as well as the Air Force Space Test
Program. He also has responsibility for the company's launch operations at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air
Force Base and operations in support of the Space Test Program at Kirtland Air Force Base. Johnson holds a B.S.
in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from the University of
Chicago. He is a senior member of AIAA and has been with Aerospace since 1987 (ray.f.johnson@notes.aero.org).
A Complete Range of Launch Activities
Jimmy F. Kephart, Project Engineer, System Engineering, Western Range Directorate, has performed many environmental assessments for launch programs at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
including the West Coast Space Shuttle, Titan IV, and EELV. Among the numerous space studies and proposals he
has supported are site selection for the Texas Space Commission and evaluation of Kiritimati Island for the
Japanese J-II New Century. A major in the Air Force before joining Aerospace in 1991, Kephart worked on research
and development for the Gemini program, the Manned Orbital Laboratory, West Coast Space Shuttle, and various
satellites and ballistics. He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and holds an M.S. in
aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology (jimmy.f.kephart@notes.aero.org).
A Stellar Rendezvous
Steven R. Strom is the corporate archivist for Aerospace. He holds an M.A. in American history from Boston College and has completed all of the work toward his Ph.D. in history at
Rice University except for his dissertation. He is the author of A Perfect Start
to the Operation: The Aerospace Corporation and Project Mercury and Charting a Course Toward Global Navigation, which appeared in previous issues of
Crosslink (steven.r.strom@aero.org).
The Air Force Space Shuttle Program: A Brief History
The Launch Verification Process
E. J. (Joe) Tomei, Chief Engineer for Space Launch, Space Launch Operations, is responsible for horizontal engineering across all
launch programs. Previously, he served as chief engineer for the EELV program and principal engineer for plans
and analysis for Space Launch Operations. Tomei joined Aerospace in 1979 on the West Coast Space Shuttle
program, serving as development and operations director for Space Launch Complex 6 until 1988. He provided
testing and launch support for the first two shuttle missions from Kennedy Space Center. Tomei has an M.S. in
aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California (edmardo.j.tomei@notes.aero.org).
A Complete Range of Launch Activities
Medium Launch Vehicles for Satellite Delivery
Joseph F. Wambolt, Principal Director, Western Range Directorate, manages Aerospace activities in support of DOD
space-launch programs at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Since joining Aerospace in 1960, he has held many managerial
positions in launch-vehicle systems. His organization received the Aerospace Program Recognition Award for the
Delta Program in 1992 and for the Atlas E/F Program in 1995. He shared The Aerospace President's Award in 1990
for program management, and in 2000 received the company's highest award, The Aerospace Trustees' Distinguished
Achievement Award, for his management and technical leadership. Wambolt has a B.S. in chemical engineering from
Northeastern University, Boston, and an M.S. in business administration from California State University,
Dominguez Hills (joseph.f.wambolt@notes.aero.org).
The Crosslink editorial staff. From left to right: Steven R. Strom, Robert Wright, Gabriel Spera, Donna Born, Jon Jackoway
