Schriever Chair

The Bernard A. Schriever Chair in Space Systems Engineering

Chair Description

The Bernard A. Schriever Chair in Space Systems Engineering is endowed by a gift to ARDI by the Emerson Electric Co. in honor of Bernard A. Schriever (Gen, USAF, Retired). Air Force Magazine (October 2000) headlined Gen Schriever as the “man who built the missiles,” and described him as “unquestionably one of the most important officers in Air Force history,” who ranks alongside the legendary Hap Arnold and Curtis LeMay in terms of long-term effect upon the service and the nation. Foremost among his many achievements was the development and acquisition of a reliable and operational ICBM force in the 1950s and early 1960s. It was a towering accomplishment—one that helped propel the United States to military dominance in space. In April 1957, his image appeared on the cover of Time magazine, which called him “America’s Missileman.” His official Air Force biography proclaims that Schriever is “the architect of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and military space program.”

Current Professor

The Schriever Chair supports a distinguished visiting professorship in the Department of Astronautics (DFAS). In recent years, it has been used primarily to support USAFA’s small satellite and sounding rocket programs.

Prof. Steven Hart is a visiting professor holding the Schriever Chair in the Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy.  He serves as the Space Systems Research Center’s (SSRC) chief engineer and lead technologist on the FalconSAT programs and is responsible for technical leadership of all on-going SSRC projects.

Prof. Hart enlisted and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while achieving academic honors earning his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Geneva College. Following graduation and entering the aerospace industry, Prof. Hart applied and was selected for Officer Training through the Air Force Reserve and was commissioned in 1999. While serving as a Services Officer, he worked in industry as an Antenna and RF/Microwave Design Engineer, as he pursued his Master’s Degree at University of Colorado, Boulder. During that time, he was responsible for delivering diverse hardware and software systems for phased array antennas and missile guidance systems. He subsequently entered the telecommunications industry and was responsible for delivering microwave amplifiers, laser interferometers, and embedded controller solutions. Upon completion of his Masters degree, with a focus in Computational Electromagnetics, Prof. Hart expanded his AF Reserve role as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Air Force Research Labs, Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV). Continuing his civilian aerospace career, Prof. Hart served as technical lead for Ball Aerospace in the delivery of the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) focal plane electronics. Over the last several years, Prof. Hart was instrumental in the successful delivery of the USAFA’s FalconSAT5 to orbit. He served as the lead avionics designer and system integrator. Prof. Hart continues to serve as an IMA with AFRL and has been responsible for analysis and delivery of hardware and software, served as external technical reviewer, as well as field exercise planning and leadership. As a civilian, in addition to his aerospace and telecommunications experience, Prof. Hart continues to perform consulting engineering, delivering solutions to a variety of commercial and government customers.

Department

Department of Astronautics

Incumbent Professor

Past Professors

2005-2010: Mr. William “Bill” Saylor

Donors & Sponsors