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  • Dr. J. Wayne Littles
  • Dr. J. Wayne Littles

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    Wall of Honor Level:
    Air and Space Leader

    Honored by:
    Bebe Blalock Littles

    EDUCATION:
    Georgia institute of Technology, B.M.E.
    University of Southern California, M.S.M.E.
    University of Texas, Austin, Texas, Ph.D., M.E.
    Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, Advanced Management Program

    ACADEMIC HONORS:
    - Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honorary Society
    - Pi Tau Sigma, Mechanical Engineering Honorary Society
    - Phi Eta Sigma, Engineering Honorary Society
    - Briaerean Society (Co-op Honorary Society, Georgia Tech)
    - Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Alabama, Huntsville

    BACKGROUND:
    Wayne Littles began his career with Rocketdyne, working on the rocket engines for the missions to the moon. Before joining the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1967, he managed the Heat Transfer Research Laboratory for Teledyne-Brown Engineering, working on fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer projects. He conducted and managed engineering for the Marshall Space Flight Center in several capacities before becoming Director of Science and Engineering, managing a 2000-person organization with a budget of $100 million. After serving as Deputy Director for the Marshall Space Flight Center, he was promoted to Chief Engineer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he had technical responsibility for all NASA programs. He served as Associate Administrator for the NASA Office of Space Flight, responsible for management of the Space Shuttle, Space Station, a wide range of Science Programs, a budget of $7.0 Billion, and four NASA field centers with approximately 9000 government and 40,000 contractor personnel. He returned to the Marshall Space Flight Center and served as Director of the Center, until his retirement from NASA in 1998. He served as Vice President and General Manager for Pratt and Whitney's liquid space propulsion business and now serves as an Aerospace Consultant.

    MAJOR AWARDS:
    - Two NASA Medals for Distinguished Service
    - Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership, American University School of Public Affairs
    - Astronautics Engineer of the Year Award, National Space Club
    - Presidential rank of Distinguished Executive, President Clinton
    - Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni, Georgia Tech
    - Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, President Bush
    - NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership
    - Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, President Reagan
    - Two NASA Medals for Exceptional Service
    - NASA Medal for Equal Opportunity
    - Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

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