Dates

• Existence: 1927-

Biographical Note: Robert Alexander

Robert Alexander was an engineer for Lockheed for more than three decades and worked on projects such as the Hubble Space Telescope. He was born on June 19, 1927 in Marcus, Washington and served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1948. His Navy assignments included serving with base security at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos (California), overhauling gun turrets on Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft at NAS Corpus Christi (Texas), and launching tow targets for aircraft gunnery practice at NAS Atlantic City (New Jersey).

After his honorable discharge in 1948, Alexander worked as a kitchen designer and attended the Drexel Institute of Technology, wanting to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. In 1952, he was hired by Piasecki Helicopter as a weights analyst. The following year, Alexander was hired by Lockheed, beginning a three-decade career with the company. His early projects included designing interior equipment for the Super Constellation. In 1958, he joined Lockheed’s Missiles and Space division as a design engineer, participating in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Agena Transporter, and other spacecraft equipment. Alexander retired in 1987. As of 2017, he is a member of The Museum of Flight Docent Corps.

Biographical information derived from interview and additional information provided by interviewee.

Chronology:

Chronology: Robert Alexander

1927 June 19

Born in Marcus, Washington

1945 June 16

Enlisted in United States Navy

1945-1948

Navy service. Assignments included base security as Naval Air Station Los Alamitos (California), overhauling gun turrets on Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft at NAS Corpus Christi (Texas), and launching tow targets for aircraft gunnery practice at NAS Atlantic City (New Jersey).

1948 June 16

Honorably discharged from U.S. Navy.

1948-early 1950s

Worked as a kitchen designer for Desney Custom Kitchens (Atlantic City, New Jersey) and Oliver Kitchens (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Attended Drexel Institute of Technology.

1952

Worked for Piasecki Helicopter (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) as a draftsman and weights analyst.

1953-1957

Worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (California) as a draftsman and designer engineer. Projects included designing interior equipment for the Super Constellation.

1957-1958

Worked for Weber Aircraft Corporation (Burbank, California) as a design engineer. Projects included designing flight engineer seat for the Convair 880 and the passenger seat for the Lockheed Electra, Eastern Airlines.

1958-1987

Worked for the Lockheed Missiles & Space division (California) as a design engineer and manager. Projects included designing and overseeing the construction of spacecraft equipment such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Agena Transporter.

1987

Retired from Lockheed.

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