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  • Mr. Walter Andrew Duester Jr.
  • Mr. Walter Andrew Duester Jr.

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    Wall of Honor Level:
    Air and Space Sponsor

    Honored by:
    Carol Christine Diane Darlene amd Walter III

    • Started career in Grumman in 1947 as a tool inspector. Trouble shooting, reviewing and analyzing production problems.
    • In 1952, became the Grumman Quality control resident at Glenn Martin as a liaison coordinator for trouble shooting and inspection.
    • Member of the Materials Review Board in the newly formed Quality Control Department from 1954-1960
    • Group Leader in the Quality Assurance section from 1960-1961
    • Group Leader in the Quality Analysis section from 1961 -1963.
    • In 1963 became the Quality Assurance Supervisor on the TFX Project.
    • Became Program Manager, Quality Control on the F-l 11 program in 1969. Responsible for the interpretation, definition and implementation of project quality requirements.
    • Moved to Program Quality Manager on the Bl Composite Horizontal stabilizer Development Program in February 1976. Responsible for the administration of Quality requirements associated with the advance development of composite structures.
    • In June of 1977 became Program Quality Manager on the Gulfstream III. Responsible for the administration of Quality requirements and FAA regulations associated with the development, flight test and FAA certification of the aircraft.
    • From mid 1978-1981 was the FAA Quality Coordinator responsible for the administration of quality requirements to Boeing Aircraft for the 767, 757, and 727.
    • From July 1980 to June of 1981 while still assigned to the Gulfstream program, was responsible for the administration of Quality requirements for the MX missile shroud program during its development phase.
    • After a consolidation of Aircraft and Missiles Program with Aerostructures Programs in 1981, was reassigned as a Quality Project Engineer in supporting the MX Missile, Gulfstream III and Sikorsky sub-contract assemblies until 1982.
    • In 1982 moved to the C-2A program. Responsible for establishing pre-production planning functions for Quality.
    • Also for brief periods, was involved in testing of the LEM program. Also involved in the Shuttle wing program during the last phases of assembly and final acceptance. Those set of wings were installed on the Shuttle Challenger.
    • Retired after 42 years of meritorious service with Grumman Aerospace Corporation.

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    Foil: 28

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