Page 6 - Gerald Johnston Flipbook

LUCAS
AEROSPACE ENGINEER
With more than 30 years of professional experience, Dr. Lucas was the project manager of Solar Thermal Parabolic Dish Technology from 1977 to 1985. Prior to obtaining this role, he was executive assistant to the director and deputy director of the California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1974 to 1976 and manager of research from 1970 to 1973. Earlier in his career, Dr. Lucas served the institution as the coordinator of research and advanced development of engineering mechanics from 1966 to 1969 and supervisor of the thermal research group from 1954 to 1966.
Dr. Lucas began his career with the United States Naval Reserve, serving to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade from 1943 to 1946. He subsequently pursued an education with the University of California, Berkeley, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1948.
He then joined the University of California, Los Angeles, completing a Master of Science in Engineering in 1949 and earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, as well in 1953.
Dr. Lucas is a member of the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering and Sigma Xi, and he is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He was elected vice president of the latter for the technical area during both 1975 and 1976. During this time, there were approximately 45,000 members, including foreign members. As the principal vice president, he was responsible for anationalmeetingforhundredsof people in various technical areas for several days every other week throughout the year. In this role, he was supported by 900 engineers who made up thirty technical committees. The administrative staff also hosted an international meeting every other year.
As an editor, Dr. Lucas has revised three books in the Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics series published by AIAA in hard cover format and from the MIT Press, including “Volume 24 Heat Transfer and Spacecraft Thermal Control,” “Volume 28 Thermal Characteristics of the Moon,” and “Volume 29 Fundamentals of Spacecraft Thermal Design.” He also is author of the book: Heat Transfer and Spacecraft Thermal Control - Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, which can still be found on Amazon.com.
Throughout his career, Dr. Lucas has been recognized for his contributions. The recipient of the Group Achievement Award from NASA, he was also recognized as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Germany.