The Rotary Club of Cleveland cultivates a diverse community of informed professionals working collectively to create a positive impact by exchanging ideas, forming meaningful, lifelong friendships, and giving back to our community.
My name is Craig Williams and I am an aerospace engineer in the Space Transportation Project Office. I have been working at the NASA Glenn Research Center since 1983, and I specialize in advanced space propulsion technology and conceptual design for deep space vehicles. In other words, my job is to assist in directing NASA's advanced nuclear fusion space propulsion research programs, research aimed at enabling fast solar system spacecraft propulsion technology.� I currently lead a joint NASA/DOE/university team conducting laboratory experiments and designing spacecraft �capable of sending humans to the outer planets and their moons through:
nuclear fission,
nuclear fusion, or
matter-antimatter annihilation systems.
As lead author, I have published nine technical journal articles and received six related awards.
Where I came from ...
I am a native of Stamford, Connecticut, and hold two degrees in engineering:
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, 1982
MS in Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 1983
While on active duty in the US Air Force, I served as Manager of Systems Engineering for the Titan IV launch vehicle and earned the USAF Commendation and Achievement Medals. Since 1992, I have been a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio.
How I got to NASA Glenn ...
Previously, I have filled a variety of positions including:
NASA Headquarters
liaison for future space transportation systems
Technical Policy Analyst, preparing material for NASA witnesses at Congressional hearings and reviewing testimony for technical accuracy
Program Manager of the Assured Shuttle Availability Program, directing the technical approach to initiate major upgrades to the Space Shuttle
NASA Chairman of the Mission Design Panel for the Cassini mission to Saturn launched in October 1997
Glenn Research Center's representative to NASA's "Access to Space" task force, a panel that assessed viable future space launch vehicles for the nation
NASA Chairman of the Flight Design Working Group for the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite mission launched in July 1990
Manager of studies to upgrade the Centaur upper stage vehicle
Launch trajectory analyst for Shuttle/Centaur missions, such as the Galileo mission to Jupiter.
What else I do ...
In addition to my duties here at NASA Glenn Research Center, I am an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Deputy Director of AIAA's Space and Missile Group, and an active lecturer in the NASA Glenn Speakers Bureau. I have served on the board of the Cleveland Museum of Art's Young Friends junior group. I enjoy swing dancing, art openings, tennis, golf, bowling, weightlifting, singing in a church choir, playing classical guitar, genealogical research, and acting in community theater. I am single and reside in Avon Lake, Ohio.
Volunteer Opportunities - "Service Above Self"
St. Augustine Community Cupboard
We will be volunteering the 2nd Saturday of each month. The volunteers help with greeting, checking in & out, and navigating the crowd, carrying items for those who need help, sanitizing the grocery baskets used, and stocking shelves, etc.
Saturday, January 11th - 10:30 - 3:00 p.m. (come for as long as you can)
Where: St. Augustine Community Cupboard, 2486 W. 14th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
RSVP rotarycle@gmail.com
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Upcoming Volunteer Day - Wednesday December 18th, January 14th and Wednesday January 15th
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - RSVP rotarycle@gmail.com or pqua@classicautocampus.com
American Red Cross Blood Donor Day, January 30, 2025
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage
The nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Blood and platelet donations are needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed.
Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by more than 40%.
Additional challenges lie ahead as winter weather and seasonal illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 may compound the dire blood supply situation the nation currently faces.
Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in. In recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of some of the most transfused blood types to hospitals.
Make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visitingRedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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