Dryden Center Directors Biographies

  • David D. McBride Deputy Director

    David D. McBride

    David D. McBride is director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. As such, he oversees all aspects of center management, strategy and operations at NASA Dryden, one of the 10 field centers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  • Kevin L. Petersen Center Director

    Kevin L. Petersen - Center Director

    Center Director, February 8, 1999 - April 3, 2009
    Acting Director, August 1, 1998 - February 7, 1999
    Kevin L. Petersen was director of the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. from Feb. 8, 1999 until his retirement on April 3, 2009. He had served as Dryden's deputy director from January 1996 until his appointment as acting director in August, 1998 and as director in February 1999.

  • Kenneth J. Szalai

    Kenneth J. Szalai

    Center Director, March 1, 1994 - August 1, 1998
    Facility Director, December 3, 1990-March 1, 1994
    Kenneth J. Szalai was Director of the NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., until July 31, 1998. He was named Center Director in January 1994 and assumed the position effective March 1, 1994.

  • Martin A. Knutson

    Martin A. Knutson

    Center Director, May 1984 - December 1990
    In May, 1984, Martin A. Knutson was appointed Director of Flight Operations for NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, and also was assigned the additional position as Site Manager of the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards, California, a position he held until 1990.

  • John A. Manke

    John A. Manke

    Center Director - October 1981 - May 1984
    John Manke was the Director of Flight Operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center, including the Ames facility at Moffett Field, California and Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California.

  • Isaac T. Gillam IV

    Isaac T. Gillam IV

    Center Director, June 7, 1978 - October 1, 1981
    Acting Director, October 31, 1977 - June 7, 1978
    Isaac T. Gillam IV was the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, NASA's major field Center for the flight testing of high speed aircraft and experimental vehicles.

  • Dr. David R. Scott

    Dr. David R. Scott

    Center Director, April 18, 1975 - October 30, 1977
    Dr. David R. Scott was the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, California. As a NASA astronaut, Scott flew on Gemini 8, Apollo 9, and was Spacecraft Commander on Apollo 15.

  • Lee R. Scherer

    Lee R. Scherer

    Center Director, October 11, 1971 - January 28, 1975
    Lee R. Scherer was appointed Director of the NASA Flight Research Center on Oct. 11, 1971, a position he held until Jan. 28, 1975, when he became the Director of the Kennedy Space Center.

  • De E. Beeler

    De E. Beeler

    Acting Director, April - October 1971
    De E. Beeler served the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with distinction during a 33-year career as an aeronautical engineer and administrator.

  • Paul F. Bikle

    Paul F. Bikle

    Center Director, September 15, 1959 - May 31, 1971
    Paul F. Bikle, was born June 5, 1916, in Wilkensburg, Penn. Formerly technical director of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California. Bikle assumed his position as Director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, California, in September, 1959.

  • Walter C. Williams

    Walter C. Williams

    Center Director, September 30, 1946 - August 28, 1959
    Walter Williams was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in aeronautical engineering from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1939. After graduation, he was employed by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and later that same year joined the science staff of the NASA Langley Research Center...