Mr. Crockett has a bachelor and masters in Mechanical Engineering, and holds a DoD Secret Clearance as needed for program requirements. His background includes employment with Orbital Science Corporation, where he was Deputy Project Manager for the Upper Stage Flight Experiment (USFE) program under contract with the U.S. Government. This responsibility included all technical program management, including the development of a new 10k hydrogen peroxide/kerosene engine, and design of an all-composite integral structure. The USFE primary structure involved new technology development of integral high pressure propellant tanks, with an internal composite bulkhead capable of storing high test hydrogen peroxide and kerosene for greater than one year.

Other positions he held while at Orbital Sciences Corporation were:

• Program engineering manager for development of a hydrogen peroxide/kerosene target vehicle designed to simulate a foreign threat

• Engineering manager for a successful Phase 1 proposal effort to develop a new expendable launch vehicle

• Consultant to Alliant Techsystems and Air Force Research Lab for development of a 110-inch diameter composite fairing and dual payload attach fixture for the Minotaur IV launch vehicle Designer/analyst for all primary upper stage composite structures for the Air Force Minotaur IV launch vehicle

• Lead analyst responsible for analysis, design, and testing of composite structures for the Taurus launch vehicle

• Lead engineer in the design of a micro-satellite carrier for the Pegasus launch vehicle

• Lead analyst for the design of the Hobby Eberly telescope

• Writer for company design guidelines for composite structures

• Lead engineer to develop and document composite drafting guidelines for the company

• ASME committee member developing composite drawing standards for ASME Y14.37

• Writer for numerous programs in C and FORTRAN aiding the engineering department, including

  • Gas dynamic program code for analyzing the performance of a cold gas separation system
  • Finite element program to aid in vehicle design
  • Design of bolted joints program
  • Point-wise stress program for composite structures using laminated plate theory
  • Vent program for predicting vehicle's internal pressure during ascent
    
    

In addition, Mr. Crockett was employed at Morton Thiokol, where he performed structural and thermal-structural analyses of solid rocket nozzles, including bolted and bonded joints, plastic analysis of metal structures, and large displacement analysis of rubber components.

From 1976 to 1982, Mr. Crockett served in the United States Navy. As the Leading Petty Officer in the Machinery Division, he was the division supervisor responsible for the operation and maintenance of a fast attack submarine nuclear power plant, as well as the ship's machinist and welder.