| SSL Home | Marshall Home | NASA Home |

Space Sciences Lab Navigation Header

Where are We From?

Click on the Map to Find Marshall Scientists From Your Hometown!!

US Map

 

Brazil China Panama Taiwan





Alabama:

Cheryl Bankston
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
College: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Graduate College: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Current field of study: X-ray Optics


Sharon D. Cobb
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
College: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Graduate College: UAB, University of Florida
Current field of study: Microgravity Research in Materials Science

Victoria Coffey
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
College: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
Graduate College: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Current field of study: Space Plasma Physics, Experimental Development and Testing, Data Analysis

Stayce Cole
Hometown: Decatur, Alabama
College : Alabama A&M University
Current field of study: Physics

James Patton Downey
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
College : University of Alabama in Huntsville
Graduate School: University of Tennessee in Knoxville
Current field of study: Numerical Modeling

Stephen E. Elrod
Hometown: Gadsden, Alabama
College: University of Alabama
Current field of study: IMAGE (Image for Magnetopause-To-Aurora Global Exploration)

Dr. B. Alan Harmon
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Current field of study: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Dr. Sandor L. Lehoczky
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
College: King College, Bristol, Tennessee
Graduate School: University of North Carolina
Current field of study: gravitational phenomena, solidification and condensed matter physics

Larry W. Russell
Hometown: Scottsboro, Al
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Graduate School: University of Alabama, Huntsville
Current field of study: Electrical Engineering/Engineering Management

"I am a second generation Marshall Space Flight Center employee. As a youngster growing up in Huntsville in the 50's and 60's, the test firings of the huge Saturn boosters, and the exploits of the Wernher Von Braun team in getting a man to the moon were an inspiration to me to work in the space business."

Fred G. Sanders
Hometown: Huntsville, AL,
College: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Former Naval Aviator, 248 carrier landings, Naval Flight Instructor, retired from Naval Reserve.

Angela Williams Shields
Hometown: Camden, Alabama
College: Alabama A&M University,
Graduate: Alabama A&M University

Dr. Robert S. Snyder
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
College: Kenyon College
Graduate School: University of Virginia
Current field of study: Microgravity Science

Mr. Scott D. Storey
Hometown: Anniston, Alabama
Current field of study: Computer Engineering

Dr. Marcus Vlasse
Hometown: Cullman, Alabama
College: Columbia University, University of Pittsburgh
University of Bordeaux
Current field of study: Superconducting materials, their processing and properties. Nucleation processes.

"I chose to work in the science field because of the great pleasure and wonderment I have always derived from discovering new knowledge about our world."

Kenneth R. White
Hometown: Tuscumbia, Alabama
College: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Current field of study: Computer Engineering

William (Bill) K. Witherow
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
College: University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN
University of Alabama - Huntsville, AL
Current field of study: Optics, Holography, and Image Processing

Arizona:
Brent A. Harper
Hometown: Prescott, Arizona
College: Auburn University (IE)
Graduate Study: University of Texas, San Antionio (MBA)
Current Field of Study:

Arkansas:
Richard B. Hoover
Hometown: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
College: Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR
Graduate Study: Duke University--NSF Fellowship
University of Arkansas, University of Alabama
Current Field of Study: X-Ray/EUV Optics Development; Solar Physics research

 

Brazil:
Dr. Jim Spann
Hometown: Recife, Brasil
College: Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Graduate School: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Current field of study: Auroral Physics and Dusty Plasmas


California:
Dr. Steve Suess
Home State: California
College: Berkely
Graduate School: University of California at Los Angeles
Current Field of Study: Solar corona, solar wind

"I studied geophysics. Somehow I got sidetracked into fluids and
magnetofluids. It's been a good ride so far and both SOHO and Ulysses
look like fun for a few more years. Now if they'll just fly Solar-B and Solar Probe."

Dr. Robert B. Wilson
Hometown: Monrovia, California
College: University of California, Riverside, California
Graduate School: University of California, Riverside, California
Current field of study: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

"I was lucky enough to have an uncle who was a research chemist for one of the oil companies' many discussions with me as a kid, and a visit to his lab showed me how interesting the life of a scientist could be (and that there was still much to be learned!)"

China:
Dr. Joseph Xiaomin Ho
Hometown: Shanghai, China
College: Beijing University of Science and Technology
Graduate School: Institute of Physics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D. (1984)
Current field of study: Crystallographic studies on macromolecular
structures; Effect of microgravity on diffraction quality of crystals; Serum albumin
structures; Diffraction theory and application of divergent beam sources; Thermal vibrations in molecular crystals; Crystallographic computing.

Florida:
Dr. Edwin C. Ethridge
Hometown? I have lived all over.
College: University of Florida
BS. Metallurgical Engineering (Biomaterials) and Pre-Medicine
Graduate School: University of Florida
Current Field of Study: Microgravity Materials Science, Glass formation and Crystallization Kinetics, modeling of the viscosity of undercooled liquids.

"Gee, I guess I am too old now, I don't remember. I have always had a strong desire/calling to learn/know the truth about God and his creation. Science is the study of God's creation."

Ronnie J. Suggs
Hometown: Hialeah, Florida
College: University of Southern Mississippi
Graduate School: Clemson University
Current field of study: Hydrological Cycle And Climate Variability - Remote sensing of water vapor from GOES satellites

Georgia:
Mitzi Adams
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Astrophysics Division
Current field of study: Solar Physics

"For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the stars at night. When I was quite young, perhaps between the ages of two and five, my parents took me on trips to visit relatives in Macon, Ga. via a large 1955 Chevrolet. At that time, I was small enough to fit in the space between the back window and the back seat. This was a perfect place to relieve some boredom and see the dark, night sky. I nearly drove my parents crazy with my questions, "What is that star?" "Is that a planet?" Of course, they didn't know, but I resolved that I WOULD know. And thus, a scientist was born."

Walter F. Fountain
Hometown: Decatur, Georgia
College: Georgia State University
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
Current Field of Study: Cosmic Ray Research

"I can't think of anything that's not dry as toast. Oh yes, there was that period of time early in my career that was somewhat exciting. As junior scientist on a research project to develop anti-tank missile tracking systems(MacMorrow Labs) Mid 60's,I was assigned the job of driving an old Sherman tank out on the south test range to perform "evasive maneuvers" while being tracked with two different type automatic trackers. After several days of this I was finally able to escape the trackers and got a longer than expected break from that job when I (accidentally) ran head first into a large ditch hidden by tall weeds and bushes and literally "dropped" out of sight, and in the process, tore off both tracks of that old tank. But up to that point I was having a blast. It took a week to get that tank out of that ditch."

 

Dr. G. Allen Gary
Hometown: Decatur, Georgia
College: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia (B.S and M.S. in Physics)
Graduate School: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (Ph. D. in Physics)
Current fields of study: 1) Physics of the magnetic fields and plasma of the Sun with collaboration with national and international scientific colleagues. 2) Scientific analysis, data reduction & theoretical modeling in support of the MSFC Solar Vector Magnetograph Observatory. 3) Solar Space Flight Instruments which provide a unique platform for observing our nearest star.

"In grade school, when I was called Bob, I loved the astronomy and space programs, and watched Captain Video and Tom Corbet Space Cadet on television and studied the stars with a small telescope. Now many years later, I'm continuing this happy and interesting study of the stars within the nation's space program. I've been involved scientifically in NASA's Apollo, Skylab, Solar Maximum Mission, and the Shuttle's SpaceLab programs. What a life!"

 

Illinois:
Dr. Ronald Elsner
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Graduate School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Current fields of study: 1) Scientific analysis & modelling support for AXAF Project Science - AXAF is one of NASA's Great Observatories
2) X-ray optics, x-ray reflection from multilayers
3) X-ray polarimetery of cosmic x-ray sources

"As a boy I loved the space program, and watched every mission I could. When the Apollo 11 crew visited Chicago after their first moon landing, I was in the crowd that greeted them. Working for NASA was my dream. As it happened I earned good grades in science and especially math. So in college I ended up majoring in physics, and went on to graduate school. At first I thought I would try elementary particle theory but I ended up in theoretical astrophysics, working on the x-ray binaries recently discovered by NASA's Uhuru satellite. After a postdoctoral term at Cornell University, in 1978 I received a National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council appointment to Space Science Laboratory here at Marshall. We worked on x-ray timing data from the Einstein Observatory. I was offered a full time position in 1980, and gladly accepted. Over the years my work has turned more from modelling cosmic sources to modelling instruments and telescopes to be used to study the universe."

Dr. Gary J. Jedlovec
Hometown: Stickney, IL
College: Saint Louis U., Saint Louis, Missouri
Graduate School: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin
Current field of study: Remote Sensing, Atmospheric Sciences

Indiana:

Dr. Jeffrey Rothermel
Wabash, Indiana
College: Purdue University
Purdue University
Current field of study: Atmospheric Remote Sensing / Climate Observation

"Atmospheric science is unlike most other scientific disciplines, because the combined atmosphere-land-ocean system is the "laboratory" in which we work. We cannot conduct "experiments" in which all the conditions are precisely controlled. Instead, we must come to an understanding of weather and climate by relying on careful observations, the technology that makes our observations possible, and the application of theory. To me, this is both challenging and exciting."

Iowa:
Dr. Dennis L. Gallagher
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
College: Iowa State University
Graduate School: University of Iowa
Current field of study: Magnetospheric Plasma Physics

"From junior high school age and older I've always had a fascination with the physics of things. Even today I like nothing more than having a problem to solve. Whether as a child taking apart a television or fusing a wire with power from a wall socket or, as an adult, building a race track for pinewood derby cars or coaching science olympiad students, I still find it exciting to learn how to make things work. Physics and my research are no different. As a scientist, I look to identify things we do not understand in our space environment and then work alone and with others to figure out how to learn more. Sometimes that means using past measurements of waves or particles in space and sometimes that means planning for new measurements. The most exciting mission coming up is called IMAGE. I am one of the co-investigators. In this mission, scientists will, for the first time, fly cameras that will be able to "see" the plasmas that surround the earth. Unlike the situation at the sun or anywhere else in the universe, the IMAGE mission will make our terrestrial plasma environment the only astrophysical plasma system in the universe which we can see from a distance and get inside to measure. It will be an exciting time of discovery with the launch of the IMAGE mission in early 2000."

Kansas:
Wesley A. Darbro
Hometown: Independence, Kansas
College: University of Cincinnati
Graduate School: Oklahoma State University, Virginia Tech
Current field of study: Mathematics

"Early childhood, no inside plumbing nor electricity and traveled by two horse wagon; farmed and plowed gardens with mules, Buck and Jake. Bible and Pilgrim's Progress only books at home through high school, no TV. Science teacher said Sputnik not real, you can't see a 6 inch sphere 100 miles away. Was printer (linotype operator), college student and in 1967 NASA employee. Now, mathematician, teacher/high school, 125 head cattle rancher, science and engineering union president (MSFC).

Kentucky:
Dr. Mona J. Hagyard
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky (Home of 1996 NCAA National Basketball Champions)
College: University of Kentucky
Graduate School: University of Kentucky
Current field of study: Solar Physics

Louisiana:
Anthony R. Guillory
Hometown: Kinder, Louisiana
College: Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, Louisiana
Graduate School: Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
Current field of study: Atmospheric Science (atmospheric water vapor concentration and transport)

"I became interested in meteorology in the sixth grade. I started reading books on weather in my elementary school library. From there, I became more interested when Tropical Storm Debra struck the southwest Louisiana coast in August 1978. Things just took off from there. I bought a raingauge, thermometers, etc. and started taking daily weather observations. I wrote some of the local TV weathermen who encouraged me to become a meteorologist. In high school everyone (teachers and students alike) looked to me for the forecast. From there, it was natural for me to major in meteorology in college."

Maryland:
Linda Porter
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
College: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current Field of Study: Computer Engineering

Massachusetts:
Dr. David Hathaway
Hometown: Lunenburg, MA
College: U. Mass/Amherst '73
Graduate School: U. Colorado at Boulder MS '75 PhD '79 (Astrophysics)
Other interests include: Archaeology, Paleontology, Running, and Volleyball

"I was always fascinated with science and nature. I collected insects and rocks as a child and became interested in Astronomy at the age of 12 after buying a small telescope advertised in a comic book. My interests turned to stellar evolution (how stars change size and color as they age and how they ultimately die) and ultimately to solar astronomy."

Michigan:
Dr. Maurice A. Jarzembski
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
College: University of Michigan-Dearborn
Graduate School: University of New Hampshire
New Mexico State University
Current field of study: Remote Sensing using Lidars, Astronomy

"I started really getting into science when I became deeply interested in astronomy at age 13 with my first telescope. Later at age 15 I picked up my first book all about Einstein's theory of relativity of which I was very fascinated in. They called me "Space Cowboy" in high school. From there on, I was hooked on science."

Dr. Roy W. Spencer
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
College: University of Michigan
Graduate school: University of Wisconsin
Current field of study: Atmospheric Science, Climate, Remote sensing

"Question the assumptions"

 

Martin E. Sulkanen
Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
College: University of Michigan
Graduate school: Cornell University
Current field of study: Astrophysics, plasma physics, x-ray physics


Minnesota:
Dr. Martin P. Volz
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
College: Valparaiso University
Graduate School: Washington University
Current field of study: Solidification Physics, Electronic and Photonic Materials

Mississippi:
Curtis E. Banks
Hometown: Byhalia, Mississippi
College: Grambling State University
Current field of study: NLO Materials

R. Charles Sisk
Hometown: West Point , Mississippi
College: Mississippi State University
Current field of study: High Brilliance focusing optic X-ray source used to determine the molecular structure of protein crystals

"After accidentally burning up one of the first all electric riding lawnmowers in the world (also my boss' wife's) with only a small screw driver and a creative voltage check, I decided it was time to learn something about electricity. "

John W. Watts
Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS
College: Mississippi State University
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Current field of study: Ionizing Space Radiation and Cosmic Ray Environments

James Elton Smith
Hometown: Yazoo City, Mississippi
College: Mississippi Valley State University

"I chose a Science Career because of my interest in the impact of actual science on the earth and society and what can mankind do to improve the negative effects."

Missouri:
Charles R. Baugher
Hometown: Neosho, Missouri
College: University of Missouri at Rolla
Graduate School: Rice University of Missouri at Rolla

Dr. Gerald J. Fishman
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
College: University of Missouri
Graduate School: Rice University
Current field of study: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Presently, Dr. Fishman is the Principal Investigator of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. This observatory is the largest scientific spacecraft ever placed into orbit by the US. It was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis in April 1991. Since that time the observatory has produced many new scientific results on some of the most energetic and violent objects in the Universe. In particular, the new observations of the enigmatic gamma-ray bursts have become one of the greatest mysteries in modern astronomy. He has lectured extensively on these findings at major universities and planetariums in the US, and at numerous scientific conferences abroad.
Dr. Fishman has also served as the principal scientist on radiation background monitoring experiments on Skylab, Spacelab and Long Duration Exposure Facility space projects. He has over two hundred publications in his research areas. He received the NASA Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award three times: in 1982, 1991 and 1993.

Robbie Hood
Hometown: Neosho, Missouri
College: University of Missouri - Columbia
(Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science)
Graduate School: Florida State University
(Master of Science in Physical Meteorology)
Current Field of Study: Passive microwave remote sensing of the Earth's atmosphere/ Earth Science

Dr. John M. Horack
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Current field of study: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Dale M. Kornfeld
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
College: University of Missouri, Rolla
Current field of Study: Microgravity Science
Worked on every major NASA project from Project Mercury through today

"Watching Dr. von Braun on the "Disneyland" TV series during the 1950's inspired me to a life of science, especially the space program. He was my boyhood hero, along with Dr. Robert Goddard. Being able to actually meet Dr. von Braun & talk with him in the 1960's was one of the high points of my life. Being named NASA INVENTOR OF THE YEAR in 1984 for my work on the MLR shuttle experiment was another."

Dr. Frank R. Szofran
Hometown: Fenton, Missouri
College: Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Graduate School: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Current field of study: Semiconductor Crystal Growth and Characterization / Space Processing

"To me, nature is captivatingly fascinating and understanding another part of it is exciting. Working with many of the scientists who have NASA grants or contracts has been interesting, especially developing a collaborative relationship with colleagues in Freiburg, Germany. However, the highest high I have gotten as a scientist is to talk to a group of elementary school students and see them excited and full of good questions about what I am describing to them."

New Hampshire:
Dr. Thomas Moore
College: University of New Hampshire
University of Colorado
Current field of study: Space Plasma Physics

Dr. Carl E. Winkler
Hometown: Manchester, NH
College: University of New Hampshire
University of Alabama
Most Significant Accomplishment: Patent for static power inverter during the Saturn era.

New Mexico:
Dr. Marshall Joy
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
College: Northern Arizonia University, Flagstaff, Arizonia
Graduate School: University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Current field of study: Astrophysics

New York:
Dr. Peter Angelo Curreri
Hometown: New York City, New York
College: City University of New York, University of Florida, Gainesville Florida Graduate School: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Current field of study: Microgravity Materials Science, Metallurgical Solidification in low-gravity

"From a very young age I could not conceive of pursuing a career in anything less that Science and Exploration. Only there do you really have a chance to give humanity something really new - something that makes us greater than the sum total of what we were. My vision of the future has always been one of infinite potential. Upon completion of my Bachelors Degree I had a realization that the only field that had the potential to match my expectations was the development of Outer Space into a frontier - a new infinite land of discovery where humans and families could live, grow, and prosper without foreseeable limit. After 20 years working in this field, I am still just as convinced of the richness of space and just as excited about it's potentials for humanity.

Dr. William M. Lapenta
Hometown: Nyack, New York
College: Pennsylvania State University
Current field of study: Atmospheric Science

Dr. Charles A. Meegan
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
Current field of study: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Dr. David D. Smith
Hometown: Brockport, New York
College: University of Rochester
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Current field of study: Physics, Nonlinear Optics

North Carolina:

Roslin Kim Hicks
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
(Born in Morristown, New Jersey)
College: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Degree: B. S. M. E. ( December 1989)

Dr. Thomas A. Parnell
Hometown: North Carolina
Current field of study: Astronomy

Ohio:
Dr. Richard J. Blakeslee
Hometown: Miami, Ohio
College: Miami University, Ohio
Graduate School: University of Arizona
Current field of study: Satellite-based Lightning Measurements / Climate Observation

Dr. Timothy L. Miller
Hometown: Blanchester, Ohio
College: Case Western Reserve University
Graduate School: University of Arizona
Area of research: Atmospheric and climate modeling, Climate Modeling

Growing up on a farm, I always had an interest in weather and how it worked, whether it could be predicted, etc. I didn't take a course in meteorology, however, until I decided 5 years after college to go back to graduate school. At that time, I realized that a math background was a pretty good one to get started in the field. Around that time, I did a lot of hiking in the Rocky Mountains and got hit by a few rough thunderstorms. That got me thinking!


Dale A. Quattrochi
Hometown: Solon (Cleveland), Ohio
College: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
Graduate School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Utah
Current field of study: Remote sensing, urban climatology, urban ecosystems analysis, landscape ecology, application of geostatistics in remote sensing, geographic information systems / Climate Observation

"I got into remote sensing in graduate school because it is intimately linked to my major field of discipline -- geography. Looking at the Earth using remote sensing uniquely enhances my skills for conducting geographical research on where things are, why they are located where they are, and how things got to be where they are on the Earth. In addition to using remote sensing as a tool to study geography, it has never ceased to amaze me that my research has always left me with more questions than when I started -- an unending reservoir of challenging research questions and problems to address. Moreover, remote sensing as an "art" as well as a science, has always presented me with the opportunity to express my creativity in both how I look at remote sensing data as well as how I process and analyze it. Remote sensing data are a "window" that allows me to see and appreciate "nature's paintbrush" as expressed on the face of the Earth. I feel very fortunate because my job is fun - each day presents its own set of challenges and discoveries which never makes for a boring day at the office!"

Panama:
Dr. Fred W. Leslie
Hometown: Ancon, Panama
College: University of Texas
Graduate School: University of Oklahoma
Current field of study: Analyzing date from the Geophysical Fluid Flow Cell experiment flown on STS-73/USML-2

Dr. Leslie flew as a payload specialist on STS-73 launched on October 20, 1995 and landed at the Kennedy Space Center on November 5, 1995. The 16 day mission aboard Columbia focused on materials science, biotechnology, combustion science, and fluid physics contained within the pressurized Spacelab module.

Pennsylvania:
Dr. James H. Derrickson
Hometown: Norristown, PA
College: Drexel University
Graduate School: University of Arizona
University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
Current Field of Study: Astrophysics concentrating on Cosmic Ray Research

"Why Science: To understand what transpired during the first three minutes following the creation of the universe (Big Bang Theory). Also develop a better understanding of the origin and evolution of matter (cosmic rays) in the universe."

Marc Lee Pusey
Hometown: Chester - Media area of PA, as that is where I did most of my growing up and where both parents come from.
College: West Chester University, West Chester, PA/B.S. Chemistry
Graduate School: University of Miami, FL/Ph.D Biochemistry
Current Field of Study: Protein Crystal Growth

Dr. Donald Reiss
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
College: Drexel University
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
Current Field of Study: Microgravity Solution Crystal Growth / Space Processing

"One of the more exciting events was being a payload specialist candidate for USML-1. It would have been more exciting had I been selected for flight, but it was interesting to participate in the selection process. "

Diane Samuelson
Hometown: Springfield, Pennsylvania
College: Southwestern Oklahoma State University
University of Alabama Huntsville
Current field of study: Atmospheric Science

Dr. J. Briscoe Stephens
Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania
College: University of Oklahoma, Majors: Physics and Engineering
Graduate School: Masters: University of Oklahoma, Physics
PhD: University of Oklahoma, Physics and Electrical Engineering
Current field of study: Advanced Scientific Information Systems

"Came to NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center about 3 1/2 decades ago for the summer and now they cannot get me to retire. Started in remote sensing of rocket exhaust plumes, then was the Center scientific focal point for environmental effects, and then the NASA focal point for the National Carbon Dioxded Program. Finally, I became a hacker ... and now test new beta software appropriate to the laboratory scientific requirements."

South Carolina:
Otha H. Vaughan, Jr.
Hometown: Seneca, South Carolina
College: Clemson A & M College now Clemson University, Clemson S.C.
Graduate School: Clemson A & M College
Current field of study: Atmospheric Electricity Research and Remote Sensing

"Some of the exciting events were working with the original Von Braun Rocket Team of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency during the early space programming the 50's,expecially the development of the Redstone, the Juipiter C, the Explorer Satellite Program that put in orbit the USA'S first satellite, the Jupiter, the SATURN I and Saturn IB, and finally the Saturn V/Apollo Program with the successful lunar landings, the Lunar Rover Program, the Skylab Program, and the present Shuttle Program, my early atmospheric electricity research work using both the NASA U-2 aircraft and the early shuttle flights which flew my first lightning observational program hardware (Night-time Daytime Observation of Lightning Experiment ( NOSL),and my more recent shuttle observational program (Mesoscale Lightning Experiment ( MLE ) during which we obtained video images, for the first time from space, of the new thunderstorm phenomena which are now called Red Sprites and Blue Jets. This phenomena had been visually observed by pilots but had not been documented by either film or video cameras. These are some of the highlights that I have been a part of during my career as a charter member of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center since 1 July, 1960."

Dr. Gregory S. Wilson
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
College: Texas A&M University
Graduate School: Texas A&M University
Current Field of Study: Atmospheric Sciences
Dr. Gregory S. (Greg) Wilson is the Director of the Space Sciences Laboratory,
MSFC, Huntsville, AL

Taiwan:
Dr. Shih-Hung Chou
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
College: National Taiwan University
Graduate School: State University of New York at Albany, New York
Field of Study: Global-scale atmospheric dynamics, Mesoscale modeling

Tennessee:
Jenny Crawford Chapman
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
College: Auburn University
Current field of study: Protein Crystallography

William L. Chisholm
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
College: B.S.E.E. Christian Brothers University
M.S.E.E. University of Arkansas

Joan B. Presson
Hometown: Pulaski, TN
College: University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Edward Allen West
Hometown: Tullahoma, Tennessee
College: Tennessee Technological University,
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
Current field of study: Vector Magnetic fields on the Sun / Solar Physics

"Research is never boring."

Colleen A. Wilson (a.k.a Colleen A. Wilson-Hodge)
Hometown: Athens, Tennessee
College: University of Arkansas
Graduate School: University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
Current field of study: X-ray Binaries - Black Hole Candidates & pulsars. Also programming & Guest investigator support


Texas:
Dr. Jason G. Porter
Hometown: Granbury, Texas
College: Texas A&M University
University of Colorado
Current field of study: Solar Physics

Virginia:
Michael Goodman
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
College: University of Virginia, BS Environmental Science 1978
Florida State University, MS, Meteorology, 1980
Current field of study: Passive Microwave and Surface Validation data sets / Climate Observation

Washington:
Kurtis L. Dietz
Hometown: Tacoma, Washington
College: University of Arizona
Current field of study: X-ray/matter interaction simulation, Computer programming

West Virginia:
Dale A. Watring
Hometown: Leadmine, West Virginia
College: West Virginia University
Graduate School: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Current field of study: Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science

"I choose a career in Engineering/Science because of my third grade teacher, Mrs. (now Dr.) Mary Alice Klein. She gave me the freedom and encouragement to work ahead in the math/science area which allowed me to really learn to enjoy the subjects and especially their applications to space travel. "

Wisconsin:
Dr. William J. Koshak
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
College: University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Arizona-Tucson
Current field of study: Lightning Research

Dr. Roger L. Kroes
Hometown: Racine, Wisconsin
College: Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Graduate School : University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Current field of study: Crystal growth in Microgravity / Super Materials

I do research in crystal growth, with particular emphasis on the microgravity environment of an orbiting spacecraft. Being involved in experiments which have flown on the Shuttle has been particularly exciting. Presently I serve as project scientist for microgravity experiments flying on the Mir space station. This involves a historic cooperative effort between the US and Russian space agencies. As part of this program I have had the opportunity to visit the Russian space facilities in Moscow and to work directly with their scientists. I also work directly with the Canadian Space Agency which sponsors several experiments in this program. It is exciting to be involved in this program of international cooperation between countries which will lead us into the 20th century and the era of international research on the US Space Station.

Edwin J. Reichmann
Hometown: Wauzeka, Wisconsin
College: University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Wisconsin
Graduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Vanderbilt University
Current field of study: Astrophysics - Solar Studies
Affiliation with past and currents space missions: Skylab, Solar Maximum Mission, Yohkoh, SOHO



return to top of page

Curator: Linda Porter
NASA Official: Gregory S. Wilson

last update: August 7, 1996