Hildreth (Hal) Walker Jr., Chairman and Co-Founder


Celebrating Black History Month with Something of Value: by Hildreth Walker, a comment on the Columbia mission STS-107

Mr. Walker began his career in the laser technology industry in early 1964 at KORAD Laser System, a Division of the Union Carbide Corporation. As a laser systems specialist Hal traveled throughout the United States and the world introducing advanced new laser technologies to the fields of scientific research and industrial applications.

While at the Hughes Aircraft Co. Electro-Optical and Data Systems Group, he also participated in developing and placing the first tactical Target Designator System into the U.S. Army's Inventory. This technology is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

When America need its best to attempt the first manned landing on the moon, many of it finest were called together to participate in this historical event. This first ever active laser ranging over a round trip distance of nearly one half million miles was a great technological effort. First, Astronauts had to lay out the reflector apparatus on the moons surface, then from Lick Observatory the lunar ranging team aimed and fired powerful laser beams that reach the experiment on the moon which reflected portions of the laser beam back to a laser receiver to conclude this historic measurement.

[IMAGE] Famed Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Hal Walker Jr. collaborated on the lunar laser ranging experiment which measured the distance from the Earth to the moon with a laser beam. Watch video

One of the major benefits to the world from the successes of these experiments is utilizing lunar laser ranging methods to very accurately trace the movement of the Earth's continental plates, thereby enabling scientists to gather data that can assist in the future of predicting the occurrence of major earthquakes.

In addition to his duties as Chairman and Co-Founder of A-MAN, Hal is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Founding Member of the Hughes Aircraft Co. Black Professional Forum (HBPF), NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, National Space Society Member, Charter Member California Museum Science Center, Member, Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Founding Member and Lay Director of the Los Angeles Inner City Walk to Emmaus Community (ICWE).

Watch a video biography of Hal Walker on the Lemelson Foundation website.

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