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Aeronautics and Aerospace

Advancements in Aeronautics and Aerospace are really the sum of achievements made by many individuals. Great minds inspire greatness in others, it is the dreams, ideas, hard work, failure, results, and retrying that contribute to the expansion of knowledge and ultimate success in these pioneering fields of science.

Christopher T. Herring, 1985

Chris graduated from the CSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and obtained his Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

Chris is the Vice President for Advanced Programs Development for the Special Programs at Lockheed Martin Space, which develops the next generation, multi-domain systems for national security applications.

Chris was the Program Director on several strategic Special Programs contracts; the ­Military Support Program, Space Payload Program, and P621. 

He also led the research and development of many enabling technologies for future space system architectures; pioneering work on mission critical technologies; Electronically Scanned Arrays, Geospatial Imaging, and Space Radar Communications. Chis has been recognized by the NRO for his contribution in the advancement of these mission critical technologies.

Chris also work internationally in aerospace, he was Asstistant Program Manager at Fokker Space & Systems, at their  Robotics Test Facility. Where he oversaw the subcontracts for mechanisms and control software in Germany, Italy, and France.

Timothy D. Halbrook, 1982

Tim joined Lockheed Martin as a mechanical engineer in 1982. Over his career with Lockheed, Tim was an engineer on many satellite builds with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center. Each of these unique and exciting missions were directed to explore deep space and unlock the mysteries of our solar system. These missions to included: The Mars Global Surveyor, the Mars Climate Orbiter, the Mars Polar lander, Mars Odyssey, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Phoenix lander, MAVEN, the JUNO mission to Jupiter, and the Lucy mission to the Trojan Asteroids.

From 2011 to 2015 Tim worked to the development and deployment of national space assets. Tim led the production efforts of the GPSIII satellite which are being deployed into a 24-vehicle constellation. In his role as the manager of the Assembly, Integration, and Test effort, Tim led the development of an assembly line for these satellites. Satellites that touch lives across the globe by providing increased navigational accuracy and distributing time for everything from cell phones, to farming, to banking.   Today Tim is the Director and Chief Engineer for Lockheed’s Military Support Program.   

 Tim received NASAs Exceptional Public Service Medal and Exception Public Achievement Medal.

Daniel S. Reagan 1982

Dan Joined Lockheed Martin as a Systems Engineer in 1982 after graduated from the Colorado State University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Construction Management.  Dan went on to become the Deputy Director of Technology for Lockheed Martin’s Astronautics Group where he was responsible for the coordination of Technology Planning (TP), Independent Research & Development (IR&D), Long Range Planning (LRP), Intellectual Property (IP) activities across all 5 of the Astronautics’ product lines.

He developed the Advanced Technologies & Capabilities (ATAC), Lockheed Martins first corporate-wide technology information sharing network which centralized research, technical expertise, test and manufacturing facilities/capabilities throughout the Corporation.

Dan also led the all-volunteer team of engineers that developed the Test and Validation Program for the “Team RE/MAX” Balloon Gondola. In preparation for their attempt to be the first balloon team to fly nonstop around the world. Flying along a path that would roughly follow the Tropic of Capricorn, at altitudes between 80,000 and 130,000, through the Earth's stratosphere. The team consisted of engineers and resources from Sandia Research Corporation, Raven Industries, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin Astronautics Group.

Dan received both the Lockheed Martin Astronautics Groups Advanced Programs Development and Business Development Awards.

Archie James Lind, 1964

After earning a combined degree in Civil and Electrical Engineering from Colorado A&M in 1964, Archie went on to earn his MBA in Computer Applications in 1975 from Loyola University, and received his Professional Engineer license in Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Florida.

 Archie worked for United Airlines where he gained extensive knowledge of different aviation regulations and airport operations around the world. After spent 30 years Archie left united to become Director of Aviation for Swanson Rink Archie where he worked on all types of airport and military installations around the world.

After the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Archie was recruited by URS, because of his extensive knowledge, to lead a URS’ role in the design and integration of the new security required by the Transportation Security Administration’s need to screen 100% of the passenger and baggage at airports around the United States.

In  2003 Archie was promoted to Vice President of Aviation of URS, a position he held until his death in 2019.

Joseph P. Marcus, 1961

Joe graduated from Colorado State in 1961 with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and began his career at what was then called Martin Mairetta. He retired in 2002 as vice president of Production Operations for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Among several managerial positions, he served as director of the company's Space Launch Systems Manufacturing at its Astronautics Operations in Denver, where he was responsible for the assembly and test of engineering products including Titan and Atlas rockets for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. He also served as director and program manager of the Superconducting Supercollider project and director of Titan Program Manufacturing. Marcus ended his career with the company after serving as the Vice President for Production Operations, where he led production engineering, manufacturing, testing and delivery of Space Shuttle External Tanks at the New Orleans Michaud Assembly Facility.

Among many accolades, Marcus received two Lockheed Martin Corporate NOVA awards for teamwork and leadership and was named Denver Astronautics Manager of the Year.

In 2003 was the College of Engineering's Honor Alumnus Award winner,  for a lifetime of professional accomplishments and his enduring commitment to the college.

Brigadier General Harold E. “Hal” Confer, 1946

Hal was a pioneer in supersonic flight. In 1958 He was a B-58 Pilot with the 3958th Operational, Evaluation and Training Squadron where he was a pilot in the test program of B-58 Hustler aircraft, the world’s first Mach 2 supersonic bomber.

In 1961 flying Convair B-58A-10-CF Hustler 59-2441, Roadrunner, set three FAI records for speed over a closed circuit of 1 000 km without payload, with 1 000 kg payload, and 2000 kg payload, respectively, and was awarded the Thompson Trophy.

In July 1963, he became Commander of the 63d Bombardment Squadron, the first supersonic bombardment squadron.

In 1965 he served as Deputy Director of Evaluation and Testing for the 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. There he was a pilot in the SR-71 Blackbird Test and Evaluation Program. The SR-71 was the world's first Mach 3+ aircraft and cruised above 80,000 feet at more than 2000 miles per hour.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flyin Cross, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon As a Command pilot he logged over 10,000 hours of flying time.

Colonel Raymond Frederick “Fred” Toliver, 1937

Fred was a test pilot and military historian, flew over 225 types of aircraft and accumulated over 9,000 hours during 28 years of service to his country, before retiring in 1965. In 1941 he set a new air speed record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean (9 hours and 42 minutes).

In 1965 he published the first of 8 books. Many received national literary awards; all have been translated and printed by publishers throughout the world.

In 1988, the USAF recognized him for his contributions to aviation and made him an “Eagle”. Other aviation legends honored as Eagles include Jimmy Doolittle, "Chuck" Yeager, Neil Armstrong, "Pappy" Boyington, George H. W. Bush, and John Glenn.

Captain Harold F. "Blackie" Blackburn, 1924

 Blackie’s first flight was in a Curtiss Jenny one year after the Great War ended. He flew his last flight, forty-two years later, in command of a TWA Superjet from Rome to New York and was the subject of an hour-long television documentary.

His total airtime of 26,800 hours (equals more than 3 years of flying above the earth's surface) during which he logged more than 6,500,000 miles (equals flying to the moon and back 13 times), crossed the Atlantic 750 times. His logbook reflects epic flights in a dazzling array of aircraft: the Curtiss B-2 Condor Bomber, the DC-2, 3, and 4, along with the heavy bombers of World War II, the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator.

During World War II he flew clandestine photo-reconnaissance missions over Nazi-Occupied Europe. Carried Generals Marshall, Vandenberg and Admiral King, along with members of President Roosevelt's cabinet, to the first war meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He also planned the trips and furnished planes for President Roosevelt's wartime flights overseas.

Blackie’s place as a pioneering, twentieth century pilot was sealed when he became one of very few aviators to win both the prestigious Mackay and Collier Trophies.