Charles Walker Email & Phone Number

Mr. Walker currently advises businesses and organizations pursuing commercial and educational efforts. He also presents space era current events, history and humor to students and the public at various venues. Previously Walker was government relations Director of NASA Systems, Rocketdyne and Space & Communications Services in the Washington, D.C. offices of The Boeing Company. In this he was the conduit for information between U.S. executive and legislative branch offices and company civil space programs. Those included the company's contracts for the International Space Station plus Space Shuttle launch and payload services. In addition Walker conducted business development and marketing efforts in propulsion, deep space exploration, reusable launcher and commercial space systems. With The Boeing Company he was expanding upon his efforts for the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company in Washington, D.C.Before transitioning to that work he was chief test engineer and company astronaut for the Electrophoresis Operations in Space program. Commercial pharmaceuticals with never before achieved purity was the program's objective. Walker trained NASA astronaut crews in the conduct of early research using proprietary biotechnical systems of his team's design. With resulting successes came the opportunity to carryon advanced development work himself. NASA approved his assignment as the first Space Shuttle payload specialist for private industry and non-NASA astronaut. Following his training he flew on Space Shuttle missions STS-41D, STS-51D, and STS-61B. In aerospace Walker began his career with missile systems design and test responsibilities at the Bendix Aerospace Company. That was followed by work for the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command engineering manufacturing projects. Before these jobs and after university studies he had worked at the U.S. Forest Service as an engineering technician and forest firefighter.Charles' working responsibilities have included laboratory research, engineering design, development, and operations planning, business development, marketing, executive management, and advocacy through private and public sector organizations. He has authored numerous book contributions, papers, columns and articles on space applications, commercialization, and history. Walker's diverse public activities include testimony before congress, television documentaries, a syndicated children's program, and numerous lectures.

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  School Of Aeronautics And Astronautics, Purdue University

  Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical/Space Engineering