James R. Dempsey was the leader of the industrial contractor team that developed, deployed, and supported the free world's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, the Atlas ICBM. The Atlas became an important space launch vehicle, launching the first American astronauts into low earth orbit. IT IS STILL IN PRODUCTION, AND HAS achieved more than 550 launches. Mr. Dempsey also developed the Centaur, the world's first hydrogen-oxygen second stage. He contributed to the development of modern management systems of large projects with advanced technology content and critical time schedules.