News from the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Volume 1, Issue 7 Spring 2005 Alumni News Chair’s Column fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and missiles; civil aviation has commercial The following updates and items of transports—almost all jets, now—and interest were submitted to the School of executive transports; general aviation Aerospace Engineering and/or to Tech (while usually including executive trans- Topics, a quarterly publication of the ports) involves private, fixed-wing aircraft Georgia Tech Alumni Association. We’d for recreation and travel and helicopters like to know what you’ve been up to! for a wide variety of uses; and space Send information updates to: vehicles include those for launch, orbital [email protected] functions, planetary transfer, and atmos- or by fax to 404.894.2760. phere reentry. To power the aforemen- tioned vehicles, there must be gas 1940 – 1949 turbines, reciprocating, ram-jet, and/or rocket engines, sometimes solid, sometimes Jerry Hamack, ‘43, was inducted into Robert G. Loewy, Chair liquid. I note, too, that the enterprises the International Astronautics Association William R.T. Oakes Professor developing these vehicles or engines are as an academician in 2000. Hamack either separate organizations or—despite lives in Seabrook, Texas. As many who follow aerospace engineer- industry “consolidation”—divisions of larger ing education know, Georgia Tech’s companies essentially capable, from an School of Aerospace Engineering has 1950 – 1959 engineering standpoint, of standing had very strong growth in enrollments in alone. The number of potential Thomas B. Holman, ‘52, has recent years. Our increase has been aerospace employers is, therefore, purchased a BT-15 aircraft similar to from a total of 577 students in 1992 one he owned during his senior year at quite large. This, of course, doesn’t take (386 undergraduates and 191 graduate Georgia Tech. Holman is co-owner of Sun into account the many, usually smaller, students), to 907 in 2002 (634 under- Aviation in Vero Beach, Florida. companies working in the less well- graduates and 273 graduates). This established areas, such as robotic craft— 57% increase in total enrollments Mort Metersky, ‘58, produced photo- the so-called “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” at Tech compares to a 4.5% loss in graphs that were featured in a July show average total enrollments among the 35 at the Sabine Rose Art Gallery in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Metersky also to 45 AE programs surveyed by ADCA had a one-man show at the Triumph (the Aerospace Department Chairmen’s Brewing Company in New Hope, Association, now under the AIAA). The Pennsylvania, from September 7 through 1992-2002 decade was chosen for this October 31, 2004. The exhibit featured a comparison because 2002 was the latest mix of photographs taken over the past year for which ADCA survey data are two years in Pennsylvania and New available to us. Actually, our enrollments Jersey. Metersky has exhibited his work in have continued to grow, so that in 2004, seven shows over the past two years. He the total was 1166 (744 undergrads and teaches photography and mixed-media 422 graduate students). visual arts at the Center of Learning in We’re often asked, “Where do your Research Engineer Henrik Christophersen with GTSpy. Retirement hosted by Delaware Valley graduates find jobs?” Usually I respond College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is by saying that as one of the top five (UAVs)–or those anticipated for opera- president of the New Town Camera Club programs in the country (according tion in planetary atmospheres other than in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and is a to U.S. News & World Report rankings), Earth’s, or the lighter-than-air craft again docent at the James A. Michener Art our graduates-to-be are recruited being considered for surveillance and Museum in Doylestown. Metersky and heavily, and the aerospace community other applications. his wife, Joan, live in Warminster, has many places where engineers are Numerous studies have been conducted Pennsylvania. gainfully and productively employed. in the last few years by various groups of Consider that the military services have continued on page 4 continued on page 3 School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech Spring 2005 Wilhite Named NASA Institute of Aerospace (NIA). Dr. Wilhite’s Vehicle Analysis Branch of the Space appointment will facilitate the School’s Systems division; assistant chief of the Langley Professor growth in the field of Advanced Advanced Vehicles division; systems Dr. Alan Wilhite joined the AE School as Aerospace Systems Architecture and will integration manager, deputy director, the NASA Langley professor in enhance interactions between the campus and director of the High-Speed Research Advanced and the NIA. Program Office; director of the Systems Aerospace Dr. Wilhite received his B.S. degree Management Office; and Director of the Systems from North Carolina State University in Independent Program Assessment Office. Architecture in 1973, his M.S. degree in 1976 from An AIAA Associate Fellow, Dr. Wilhite May of 2004. George Washington University, and his has published extensively in respected Dr. Wilhite Ph.D. in 1985 from North Carolina State journals and is well known for his holds one of the University. He joined the School after an presentations at national and international seven teaching appointment as eminent scholar in meetings and conferences. Among other and research Systems Engineering and Simulation at honors, he has been awarded a NASA professorship the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Medal for Exceptional Management appointments Dr. Wilhite worked with the NASA Achievement, a NASA Medal for that have been Langley Research Center from 1973 to Exceptional Engineering Achievement, created at 2001, holding positions of increasing Department of Defense National founding partner responsibility including: director of Aero-Space Plane Superior Contribution universities by Dr. Alan Wilhite Technology in the National Aero-Space Awards in 1988 and 1991, and a the National Plane Joint Program Office; head of the Langley Outstanding Leadership Award. AE Welcomes New from the University of Michigan. Dr. Fellowship awards (’01, ’03) and was Faculty Member Walker brings to his faculty career at named a Lockheed Martin Scholar (’97- Georgia Tech an outstanding record ’99). Dr. Walker’s research interests are Dr. Mitchell L.R. as a scholar and a graduate student in the areas of advanced spacecraft and Walker II joined researcher. He also served as an engi- aircraft propulsion, plasma physics and Tech’s School of neering intern with Lockheed Martin rarefied gas dynamics, electric propulsion Aerospace Missiles & Space and Lockheed Martin plume diagnostics, and Hall thruster Engineering in Tactical Aircraft Systems while a student. clustering and facility effects. These broad January of Dr. Walker’s awards and honors from the interests make Dr. Walker an excellent 2005 as an University of Michigan include the Arnold addition to the AE faculty. He will add assistant profes- M. Kuethe Aerospace Engineering strength to the space research group, sor. He holds Fellowship, the Rackham Merit Fellowship, and his specialties supplement those of B.S.E., M.S.E., GEM Fellowship, and the Aerospace our propulsion group, which, while and Ph.D. Engineering Distinguished Achievement already strong in chemical propulsion, degrees in Award. He also received Michigan had no activity in the area of deep-space Aerospace Space Grant Consortium Graduate electric propulsion. Dr. Mitchell L.R. Engineering Walker II Lockheed Martin The event drew students and faculty Technology Day a members from across the campus, includ- ing representatives from the College of Success at Tech Engineering, the Office of Career Lockheed Martin Technology Day at Services, the College of Computing, the Georgia Tech was held on November Vice-Provost’s Office, the Division of 16, 2004. The daylong event showcased Professional Services, the Global Learning Lockheed Martin and its diverse business Center, the Georgia Tech Research units to the Tech community. Institute, and the Office of Development. Several Lockheed Martin business units The Guggenheim School was well participated, representing business represented by several attending AE interests and technologies ranging from students and faculty members, including aircraft manufacturing and postal delivery School Chair Robert Loewy, Professor systems to nuclear propelled space explo- Michael Jenkins, and Dr. Eric Johnson, ration, satellite imaging systems, and air the Lockheed Martin assistant professor traffic control. of avionics integration. Students meet with a Lockheed Martin 2 representative. www.ae.gatech.edu ______________________________________ Chair’s Column continued from first page institutions is a national priority” and “is In the same year (2002), Sean persuading top Chinese scholars to return O’Keefe, then administrator of NASA, respected, thoughtful people, assembled home from American universities.” was quoted in the Langley Research and tasked to consider many aspects of Although “American educators have Center 2004 Implementation Plan as the aerospace enterprise. They include, been concerned since the fall of 2002, announcing that “education would be for example, the National Research when large numbers of foreign students a core function of the agency.” NASA Council (NRC), the larger professional experienced delays in visa processing,” was not alone among federal agencies