Former Aeronautic Director Roy Harris Jr. Will Speak October 28

Langley Research Center is wrapping up the 'NASA at 50' lecture series that is celebrating a half-century of history with someone who was there when it all started. Roy Harris, Jr., the former director of aeronautics at Langley, says NASA's aeronautics research is critically important to our nation's transportation, defense, economy and its competitiveness in a global world.

Harris will speak on NASA's contributions to both civil and military aviation and the future challenges facing US aeronautical research in a colloquium lecture this Tuesday, October 28. The lecture, called "50 Years of NASA Aeronautical Research," will take place at 2 pm in the Reid Conference Center at NASA Langley.

Harris will present the same lecture for the general public on Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm at the Virginia Air & Space Center on Settlers Landing Road in Hampton. The evening talk is free and no reservations are required.

Harris, a graduate of Georgia Tech with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, joined Langley Research Center in 1958. He conducted research in supersonic aerodynamics for 15 years before becoming branch head, division chief, director for aeronautics and the center assistant director for research and engineering.

In addition to his center duties, Harris was appointed the agency facility group director for wind tunnels and aerothermodynamic facilities in 1995. Since retiring from NASA in 1998, he has worked as a consultant and as a volunteer technical advisor to a NASA aeronautics advocacy group.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/