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Hall
of Distinction |
Updated:
04/05/08
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Wendell S. Norman
Dr. Wendell Norman's distinguished engineering career is highlighted
by innovation, leadership, management,
teaching and a willingness to work extraordinarily hard to reach a worthy
goal. All of those qualities led to a level of expertise described by
his peers as "invaluable to the nation" during a critical
period in defense and space exploration.
As a student, Dr. Norman, a native of Fulton , Kentucky , not only took
on the challenge of engineering studies at the University of Kentucky
, he also became actively involved in campus life. He was president
of the Student Government Association and a member of several honorary
organizations, including Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi. Douglass Witt,
a UK engineering classmate and longtime friend, said Dr. Norman's energy
in taking on leadership roles was exceptional. Simply getting to the
University and remaining there as a student required more effort than
most would give.
"He grew up with modest means in a very rural area," Mr. Witt
wrote in his nomination of Dr. Norman for membership in the Hall of
Distinction. "The only way he could attend UK was to get the only
four-year academic scholarship available at the time (UK Alumni Scholarship),
and to wait on tables for his meals. He truly was a wonderful, deserving
student who created his own opportunities and made the most of them."
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering
from UK in 1956, Dr. Norman earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in aeronautical
engineering from Purdue University . As a first lieutenant in the U.
S. Air Force and an associate professor at the Air Force Academy from
1961 to 1964, Dr. Norman taught courses in aerodynamics, flight mechanics
and space flight mechanics.
He joined Sverdrup Technology at the Arnold Engineering Development
Center (AEDC) in 1964, and moved up in rank from project engineer to
assistant branch manager and branch manager of the hypervelocity branch.
Dr. Norman managed research activities in seven aerodynamic testing
facilities. The knowledge he gained led to new troubleshooting methods
that he applied to more complex testing. It also helped enhance findings
obtained from test and operational flights of Intercontinental Ballistic
Missiles and space re-entry vehicles. Dr. Norman initiated new methods
for the use of computers in managing resources and project information.
He and his team were responsible for significant advances in testing
done in anticipation of a need for highly maneuverable hypersonic vehicles.
Dr. Norman was named deputy director for testing and manager of the
aerodynamics projects branch at AEDC's von Karman facility, where he
supervised project engineers in planning, testing and analysis. His
work included tests of scale model aircraft, missiles, advanced space
systems and their components. He rose to director of the von Karman
and Propulsion Wind Tunnel facilities in 1976, overseeing the work of
500 engineers and craftsmen.
Three years later, he was named director of the test operations division,
and from there, chief scientist at Sverdrup's AEDC group. His extensive
testing experience allowed him to resolve inconsistencies between test
data and data from other sources in the Apollo Command Module and the
NASA Viking Mars Re-entry Vehicle. He was named general manager and
vice president of Sverdrup's Lewis Research Center group in Cleveland
in 1983, assuming total responsibility for a contract with NASA Lewis
Research Center and providing technical and scientific support.
Beginning in 1990, he served for almost four years as senior vice president
for Sverdrup in Tullahoma , Tennessee , with oversight responsibility
for contract operations in five locations with more than 1,000 employees.
He was also responsible for human resources, finance and contracts administration.
He maintained a strong interest in engineering education, serving 20
years as adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee Space Institute
and 20 years on professional groups responsible for engineering accreditation.
In addition to being named an AEDC Fellow in 2004, his honors include
the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University in 1978; Outstanding
Aerospace Engineer in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at
Purdue, 1999; and letter of commendation, United States Air Force Aerospace
Research Pilot School. Dr. Norman authored or co-authored many technical
reports and technical papers. In retirement, he has continued his lifelong
interest in learning by auditing many courses at Middle Tennessee State
University . He has also served as CEO of the Beesley Animal Humane
Foundation and Spay-Neuter Clinic in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Dr. Norman and his wife, Kay, reside in Murfreesboro , Tennessee . He
has three children with his first wife, Louise Hancock Norman: James
Norman, Kate Beaty and Laura Dixon.
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