PH.D. THESES DIRECTED:

· Jean-Paul Gravier, "Absolute Optimum and Two-Impulse Optimal Interplanetary Transfers with Applications to Earth-Mars and Earth-Venus," 1970. Returned to France, worked in the Nuclear Program there and in Brazil.

· Ching-Yew Yang, "On the Use of Aerodynamic Forces to Effect Maneuvers of Orbiting Vehicles," 1972. In the Republic of China (Taiwan) rose to be Director of Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) with more than 1500 PhD’s under his direction.

· James Michael Walton, "Optimum Transfer Between Hyperbolic Asymptotes About a Planet of Finite Size," 1973. Rose to Colonel in the USAF, directed several major programs, and directed a branch of the AFWL at Albuquerque.

· Jerry Neill Mason, "Determination of Optimal Initial Conditions for an Orbital Launch Facility," 1973. Rose to Colonel in the USAF, and directed a major satellite program.

· James Pryor Hauser, "An Analysis of the Effects of Systematic Errors in the Lunar Ranging Experiment," (with P. Bender), 1974. Served on the faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School, and started his own consulting company.

· Wu-Torng Chen, "Satellite Orbits Under the Influence of Air Drag, Rotating Oblate Atmosphere, and Planet's Oblateness," 1977. Returned to the Republic of China and served as research scientist at Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST).

· Shean-Teh Han, "Determination and Maintenance of Earth Orbits With Arcs of Minimum Altitude Variation," 1980. Returned to the Republic of China and served as research scientist at Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST).

· Chia-Chuan Chow, "Satellite-to-Satellite Orbit Determination Using Minimum Range and Range-Rate Data Only," 1984. Returned to Republic of China and became Chairman of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Military University, then joined the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). 6F-2,3 Lane 68, San-Min Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

· Ting-hua Wang, "Meter-level Orbit Determination of Geosynchronous Satellites by and Economical Tracking System," 1985. Returned to the Republic of China and served as research scientist at Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST).

· Lin-sheng Jin, "Preliminary Orbit Determination Using Satellite-to-Satellite Limited Range and Range-Rate Data," 1986. Returned to the Republic of China and served as research scientist at Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST).

· Douglas R. Tighe, "Orbit Determination for Low Earth Orbit Spacecraft Based on Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Techniques Via a Unique Very High Altitude Relay Constellation," 1986. Has continued with Lockheed Martin Corporation at the Denver, Bethesda, Vandenburg, and Houston facilities.

· Richard C. Murrow, "Frozen Orbits - Near Constant or Beneficially Varying Orbital Parameters," 1986.

· Darren S. McKnight, "Simulation of On-Orbit Satellite Fragmentations," 1986. Joined the faculty of the USAF Academy, then played a key role in the SOCIT tests, and joined Kaman Sciences. Now Senior Vice President, Director of Science and Technology Strategy, SAIC, Email: Darren.S.McKnight@saic.com

· Rodney D. Bain, "Ten Year Lifetime Orbits About the Planet Mars," 1988. Rose to Colonel in the USAF and joined the faculty of AFIT in Dayton, Ohio. After a decade there he retired.

· W. Kent Tobiska, "A Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Flux Model," (with Charles Barth), 1988. Served at JPL for a decade. Email: ktobiska@spacenvironment.net, President and Chief Scientist, Space EnvironmentTechnologies, 1676 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, ph: 310-573-4185.

· Donald L. Mackison, "Guaranteed Cost Control of Flexible Space Structures," (with P. Dorato) 1988. Served at Ball Corp as their Kalman filter guru among other things. After a decade there joined the University of Colorado’s Aerospace Engineering Science Department as a Lecturer and consults and teaches short courses.

· William E. Frazier, "Semianalytic Study of High-Eccentricity Orbit Stability and Evolution," 1989. At Ball Corporation, Ball Aerospace, since graduating. Served in major managerial and technical leadership positions on several high-profile programs. Email: wfrazier@ball.com, ph: 303-939-4986

· Ho-ling Fu, “On the High Eccentricity Aerobraking Orbit Transfer Problem, with Parametric Analysis and Numerical Study”, 1992. Returned to the Republic of China and served as research scientist at Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST). Now Director of Aero Research Lab of CSIST.

· Timothy D. Maclay, “Untrackable Orbital Debris Hazard Assessment and Shield Design for Satellites Operating in Low Earth Orbit”, 1993. Joined OrbComm, subsidiary of Orbital Sciences, and rose to Vice-President in the independent OrbComm. Email: maclay.timothy@orbcomm.com, ORBCOMM, 21700 Atlantic Blvd, Dulles, VA 20166-6801, ph: 703-406-5077

· David B. Spencer, "An Analytical Solution Method for Near-Optimal, Continuous-Thrust Orbit Transfers," 1994. Joined the USAF Phillips Lab in Albuquerque (AFWL) as director of the astrodynamics program. Left to join the faculty of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State where he is now an Associate Professor. Email: dbs9@engr.psu.edu, Ph: 814-865-4537, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Penn State University, 229 Hammond Bldg, University Park, PA 16502

· Ronald A. Madler, "Evolution of the Near-Earth Man-Made Orbital Debris Environment," 1994. Joined the faculty of Embry Riddle Aeronautic University where he is now professor and chairman of the Aerospace Engineering Department. Email: madler@erau.edu, ph: 928-777-3896

· Roger P. McNamara, "The Investigation of Space Debris Generation and Associated Long-Term Effects in the Geosynchronous Region," 1995. Continued at Lockheed Martin Corporation, became director of the Large Booster Division, and today has a similar role in advanced launch systems. Email: roger.p.mcnamara@lmco.com,

· Ian J. Gravseth, “Determination of the Physical Properties of Artificial Debris Via Remote Observations,” 1996. Continued at Ball Corporation where he is today. Email: igravseth@ball.com, ph: 303-939-5421

· Christopher A. Sabol, “A Role for Improved Angular Observations in Geosynchronous Orbit Determination”, 1998. Joined the astronautics group at USAFWL, then transferred to the Airforce Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site as a leader of the Optical Program. Email: Chris.Sabol@Maui.AFMC.AF.MIL, Research Aerospace Engineer, AMOS site, AFRL, Detachment 15 AFRL, 535 Lipoa Parkway, Suite 200, Kihei, HI 96753, phone: 808-874-1594

· Khanh Kim Luu, “Effects of Perturbations on Space Debris in Supersynchronous Storage Orbits”, 1998. Joined the astronautics group at USAFWL, then transferred to the Airforce Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site as a leader of the Optical Program. Email: Kim.Luu@Maui.AFMC.AF.MIL, AMOS site, AFRL, Detachment 15 AFRL, 535 Lipoa Parkway, Suite 200, Kihei, HI 96753, phone: 808-874-1608

· Scott R. Dahlke, “Investigation of Lunar Ballistic Capture Transfer Trajectories”, 1998. Joined the faculty of the USAF Academy in the Astronautics Department. Email: Scott.Dahlke@USAFA.af.mil,

· Maria J. Evans, “Optimization of Satellite Constellations for Partial Coverage”, 1999. Worked for Orbital Sciences and its subsidiaries, then formed her own company.

· Kira Michelle Jorgensen (now Abercromby), “Using Reflectance Spectroscopy to Determine Material Type of Orbital Debris”, 2000. Served three years as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with the Space Physics Division’s Space Debris Program. Currently in the same position but formally with Jacobs Sverdrup in their support group. Email: kira.abercromby1@jsc.nasa.gov, ph:281-483-8353 ESCG/Jacobs Sverdrup, 2224 Bay Area Blvd., Box7, Mail Code JE104, Houston, TX, 77058

· Kenneth Stephen Crumpton, “The Effects of Filter and Coordinate Frame Selection on the Accuracy and Efficiency of Tactical Ballistic Missile Parameter Estimation and Prediction”, (with George Born), 2000. With Raytheon in their space group in Denver.

MASTER’S DEGREES DIRECTED

There have been approximately one hundred Master’s Degrees obtained under the direction of Professor Robert D. Culp in the 34 years since 1968. Some of these who come to mind are:

Ellison Onisuka, BS and MS, 1969. Astronaut, died on the Challenger in 1986.

James Voss, MS, 1974. Astronaut, currently associate Dean, Auburn University College of Engineering, and Lecturer, University of Colorado, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Email: vossjam@auburn.edu, ph: 281-480-6185 (home)

Roland H. “Rhip” Worrell, MS, 1984. USAF Colonel, became second in control of the “Star Wars” Program, directed the Brilliant Pebbles Program. Currently Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer with NAVASYS Corporation, email: rworrell@navasys.com,

Michael Dickey, MS, 1988. USAF Colonel. Email: dickeys@knology.net, currently at Space Command HQ.

Michael Woeste, Lockheed Martin

Paul Shattuck, Lockheed Martin

Steve Price, Lockheed Martin

Dave Eagle, Lockheed Martin

Eric Seale, Lockheed Martin

Tom Sparn, LASP, University of Colorado

Tetsuo “Tex” Yoshioki, National Defense Academy, Japan, once department head of aerospace engineering, later a noted politician.

All of these could have, and perhaps should have, continued and received the PhD. Primarily because of success in the discipline, they were in demand and could not take time off from exciting careers to spend more time in graduate school. From their successes it is apparent they made the correct decisions.