While doing the Ornament business, Business 2, I filled in slow times with part-time work through Manpower. One of these assignments was a delivery truck driver for Lockheed Martin, Huntsville, Al.
Technician 1983
My main job was to deliver equipment to a test area on the Redstone Arsenal. This got pretty boring so I asked if I could learn how to operate some equipment. Soon after that I found myself working at the test facility on campus running a dynamometer. Lockheed was testing a composite technology for the the military. This is how I got introduced to composites. After about 1 year I got asked to work as a technician for Martin Marietta, MSFC, Huntsville, AL. This was the beginning of a great career in aerospace composites.
Technician MM 1984-1990
Martin Marietta, MM, was the company building the External Tanks, ET’s, for the Space Shuttle Program. Their Huntsville office was responsible for research and development of new materials for the the External Tank. Ozone issues were high on the national environmental agenda and Chloroflouralcarbons were used as a blowing agent in the current ablative foam formulation. MM was also developing composite parts for the ET. During my first 6 years I worked on 4 composite parts, the GH2 Fairing, LO2 Fairing, Inter-Tank Access Door, and the Nose Cone. My access to the foam development lab gave me an idea to develop a high temp moldable foam for the Inter-Tank Access Door project. This idea became my first patent and recognition as Co-inventor of the year. It was during this time I also went back to college and received my diploma in Business.
Engineer MM 1990-1994
Just prior to receiving my diploma I was promoted to Engineer over my Research Lab and proceeded to develop the Nose Cone layup and cure protocols. After several years I was credited with developing the overall process for manufacturing the Nose Cone and receive 2 patents. During this time I was promoted to represent The Technology Transfer Office of NASA. I joined the Tech Transfer Society and there is where I met Dr. B. Schroer, UAH, This meeting became an exit for my current path to even more exciting opportunities.
