75th International Conference on Mass Properties Engineering

Guest Speakers

75th SAWE International Conference
on Mass Properties Engineering
May 21-26, 2016
Denver, Colorado, USA

 

Opening Session Speaker

Robert W. Ridenour

History of the SAWE
Robert W. Ridenour

Robert W. (Bob) Ridenour graduated with a BA in Physics and Math from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIUE) in 1964 and an MS in Physics from SIUE in 1971. Bob joined McDonnell Aircraft in 1964. During the next forty years, he worked for McDonnell Douglas Astronautics, McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, and The Boeing Company, all in St. Louis. Over his career, he worked on mass properties for: Gemini, Gemini-B for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory, Space Shuttle proposal, Cruise Missile proposal, F-18 Proposal, B-1 Composite Vertical Stabilizer Proposal, F18G, and others. In 1975 he was assigned to a project to develop computerized interfaces for data exchange between the structural technology disciplines (Strength, Weights, Loads, and Dynamics). He spent almost 27 years in this endeavor.

Bob has been a member of the SAWE St. Louis Chapter since 1964. He has served in several chapter of ces and on several chapter committees. He acted as the host of the 39th International Conference held in St. Louis in 1980. He has also served on several regional conference committees. Bob has been the International Vice-President - Publications since 1985. He attended ?almost? every SAWE Conference between 1986 and 2003. Bob was elected to SAWE Fellow in 1992, and to SAWE Honorary Fellow in 1994. Bob has presented papers at three International conferences and made several presentations at regional conferences.

Since his retirement in 2004, Mr. Ridenour has become more involved with his interests in history and genealogy. He is the President of the Madison County (Illinois) Genealogical Society, and the newsletter editor for that group as well. His interest in history, combined with genealogy, has led him to become a member of the Society of the War of 1812. He currently is the Vice President of the Illinois Chapter of the Society of 1812, as well as State Gravemarking Coordinator for the group. He has also become a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and is currently the Gravemarking Coordinator for the Genl. George Rogers Clark Chapter SAR and the editor of the chapter’s newsletter.

Mr. Ridenour will enlighten us about the history of the SAWE, concentrating on the third quarter-century of the Society’s existence.

 

 

Standards and Practices Luncheon Speaker

Roger P. McNamara, II, Ph.D.

Roger P. McNamara, II,  Ph.D.
Director, Orion Launch Abort System

Dr. McNamara has supported spacecraft design and development as well as manned and expendable, launch vehicle efforts over his 37-year career with Lockheed Martin. He started his career as a mass properties and trajectory analyst for the LM Space Shuttle Mission Integration Support Contract. Subsequently, he supported expendable launch vehicles including Titan II, Titan IV, Commercial Titan, and the Athena Launch Vehicle.

Prior to joining the Orion team, Dr. McNamara lead two Ground Missile Defense programs, serving as Program Manager for both the High Performance Boost Vehicle (HPBV) Interceptor program and the Boost Vehicle Plus (BV+) Interceptor program.

Recently, Dr. McNamara was the Orion Program Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) Mission Director responsible for the timely and accurate performance of all contributing systems for the mission including the final design, development and production of the EFT-1 flight vehicle, ground equipment; the procurement of, and integration with the Delta 4 Heavy booster launch service, oversight of flight, recovery, and post flight activities.   Ensuring the successful EFT-1 mission required the integration of multiple organizations including LM, ULA, NASA, FAA, US Navy, and USAF Range Operations.

Currently, Dr. McNamara is the Director for the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) Integrated Product Team (IPT) and the Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2)  LM Mission Director.