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Home > Investigation Team > Dr. Robert M. Wood

Education:
1945-49 University of Colorado, B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering
1949-53 Cornell University, Ph.D. in Physics

Work Experience:
1946 summer and fall: General Electric, plotting data from V-2 firings at White Sands
1947 summer: General Electric, fabrication and test of a prototype ignitron-driven control system for naval guns
1948 summer: General Electric, fabrication of a prototype air-driven pneumatic gyroscope
1949 summer: Douglas Aircraft, analysis of aerodynamic data for the Nike Ajax missile
1950 summer: Douglas Aircraft, analysis of aerodynamics for the Honest John missile
1949-1951 academic years, Cornell University, teaching physics to freshmen
1953-1954: Douglas Aircraft, Automatic Controls, analysis of advanced concepts
1955: Flight Refueling, Inc., consultant in flight refueling systems
1954-1956: Aberdeen Proving Ground, U. S. Army, aerodynamic analysis of ballistic range data
1956-1993: Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas, varied assignments in research and development management.

MDC Career summary (Employee No. 05325)
In 1956, I was asked to solve the problem of keeping the Nike Zeus missile, which was to be made of aluminum, from overheating. I helped set up a Thermodynamics Group and solved the problem with an early use of computers that showed that a layer of Teflon would keep the missile cool for the short flight times involved. This was used on the successful development program. (Bosses: Jim Gunkel, Ray Hallet, Max Hunter, Ned Weiler)

In 1962 I was asked to improve our company use of IRAD (Independent Research and Development) funds, and this led to the creation of a Research and Development Department to focus on technology critical to our future business. This group captured nearly all the CRAD they bid on. (Bosses: Bob Johnson, Ray Hallet, Joe Waisman)

In 1970 I was asked to learn enough about radar so that we could select and manage a radar contractor for the Hardsite system, a defensive weapon system designed to protect critical U. S. installations. We won the job with General Electric-Syracuse as our subcontractor. Later, I was asked to take over from Bell Labs the highly specialized radar detection and discrimination of warheads from decoys. With a small group, our digital simulations of radar responses solved the problems and we were given the sole responsibility for this function. (Bosses: Jack Bromberg, Don Black, John Gardner)

In 1976 I was asked to manage the IRAD program. We decentralized the control, and helped the principal investigators to perform like talented salesmen. As a result our scores became the highest in the MDC and matched the best in industry. (Bosses: Jim Dorrenbacher, Ade O'Neal, Fred Sanders, Ken Francis)

In 1983, based on my continuing expertise in radar, I was asked to manage a highly classified intelligence program.

In 1984 I was asked to help the company win the Space Station project. We won, and I was put in charge of the Advanced Development Projects on Space Station. Our customer was very well-satisfied during the competitive Phase B. On the final winning proposal I was responsible for the "Other Factors" volume, including information in both technical and non-technical areas. (Bosses: Bob Thompson, Dave Wensley, Tom Parkinson)

In 1987 I assisted in writing the executive summary of the MLV-II proposal. This proposal won, became Delta II and is the basis of a major portion of our business now. (Proposal boss: Don Magill)

In 1990 I was named as the proposal manager of the "Mobile Remote Manipulator Development Facility" bid at Houston. I orchestrated the proposal, dealt with all the interfaces, got the price as low as possible, and we won the job. (Bosses: Monty Ratcliff, Bob Thompson)

In 1991 I was selected to be a key member of the Malcolm Baldrige application for quality. This challenge resulted in an excellent submission for evaluation. Our application's excellence compared better than most in the Corporation. (Boss: Bonnie Soodik)

In 1992 I was asked to write the executive summary for the Centrifuge Facility, a device that would go in the Space Station and spin plants and animals. This proposal also won, although there were two bidders and two winners. This project is still not decided, with the various redesigns of Space Station influencing the authorization of the money. Our last proposal named me as the Chief Scientist for this project. (Bosses: Dave Richman, Dave Wensley, George Butler, Wayne Marcus)

On October 8, 1993, I retired from McDonnell Douglas after 43 years sof service.

Major Strengths

• Ability to take complex ideas and explain them in simple words, oral and written
• Knowledge of a wide variety of technical areas of both science and engineering
• Appreciation for the skills to make hardware as well as those for analysis
• Excellent knowledge of the proposal process, inherent to winning new business
• Great team leadership ability and willingness to be on teams
• High productivity, especially flexible in taking advantage of computer efficiencies
• High creativity
• Marvelous record at getting along with nearly everybody
• Good at view graph presentations. Started two Toastmaster Clubs for the company.
• Recognized set of high ethical standards
• Familiarity with the strategic planning process

Current professional memberships and publications:

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (Science)
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA Journal)
• American Physical Society (Physics Today)
• American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR Journal)
• Ancient Astronaut Society
• Center for UFO Studies (International UFO Reporter, or IUR)
• Electric Spacecraft Journal
• Fund for UFO Research (appointed to Board of Directors)
• Infinite Energy
• Journal of Galilean Electrodynamics
• Mutual UFO Network (appointed to Board of Directors, MUFON Journal)
• Rotary International (The Rotarian)
• Scientific American
• Sigma Xi (American Scientist)
• Society for Scientific Exploration (elected to Council, Journal of Scientific Exploration)
• Toastmasters International (The Toastmaster)

External Publications of Robert M. Wood

1. R. M. Wood and C. H. Murphy, "Aerodynamic Derivatives for Both Steady and Nonsteady Motion of Slender Bodies, Journal of Aeronautical Sciences 22, pp 870-871, 1955.
2. Robert M. Wood and R. J. Tagliani, "Heat Protection by Ablation," Aero/Space Engineering 19, pp 32-45, July 1960.
3. R. M. Wood, H. T. Ponsford, R. E. Lowe, J. F. Madewell, "Thermostructural Design — Entry Vehicles for Mars and Venus (presented at the American Rocket Society Structural Design of Space Vehicles Conference), Douglas Aircraft Company Engineering Paper 976, May 1960.
4. Robert M. Wood, "Atmospheric Entry," presented at UCLA Short Course on Thermal Management) May 1964.
5. Robert M. Wood and Karl D. Wood, "Solar Motion and Sunspot Comparison," Nature 208, pp 127-131, 1965.
6. Robert M. Wood, "The Giant Discoveries of Future Science," (presented to the Vandenberg Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics on 19 March 1968), McDonnell Douglas Paper I-782, August 1968. Subsequently regularly modified and presented 20-30 times in 20 years, with 10 of them as an AIAA Distinguished Lecturer during the years 1976-78.
7. Robert M. Wood, "Giant Discoveries of Future Science" (presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science), Virginia Journal of Science 21, 1970.
8. Robert M. Wood, "Comparison of Sunspot Period with Planetary Synodic Period Resonances, Nature 255, pp 312-313, May 1975.
9. Robert M. Wood, "Testing the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis," (presented to a joint meeting of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the World Future Society), 27 September 1975.
10. R. M. Wood, J. W. McKee, G. A. Kuck, D. R. Flaherty, "High-leverage Advanced Development Projects to Meet Space Station Requirement, McDonnell Douglas Corporation Paper Number MDC H1479, October 1985.
11. R. J. Sirko, R. M. Wood, "Space Station Freedom as a Bridge to Future Missions ó Technology Benefits" (presented to 26th Space Congress, Cocoa Beach, Florida), MDC Report H5116. April 1989.
12. Robert M. Wood, "The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis Is Not That Bad," Journal of Scientific Exploration 5, pp 103-111, 1991.
13. Robert M. Wood, "How to Study Weird Things Gracefully," Treatment and Research of Experienced Anomalous Trauma (TREAT V) Proceedings, 18 March 1993.
14. Robert M. Wood, "A Little Physics...A Little Friction: A Close Encounter with the Condon Committee," International UFO Reporter 18, pp 6-10, July/August 1993.
15. Robert M. Wood, "Did Biela's Comet Cause the Chicago and Midwest Fires?", Society for Scientific Exploration Annual Meeting, 15-17 June 1995, Huntington Beach, California.
16. Robert M. Wood, Foreword to "Unconventional Flying Objects" by Paul R. Hill, Hampton Roads, 1995.
17. Robert M. Wood, Book Review of "Top Secret/Majic" by Stanton T. Friedman, Journal of Scientific Exploration 11, No. 1, 1997, p.100.
18. Robert M. Wood, on the book review of Top Secret/Majic, with J. Vallee, K. Randle, and S. Friedman, Journal of Scientific Exploration 11, No. 2, 1997, p 233.
19. Robert M. Wood, "Critique of 'Roswell - Anatomy of a Myth'," Journal of Scientific Exploration 12, No. 1, 1998, p. 127.
20. Robert M. Wood, "Philip Corso: An Alternative Take," MUFON UFO Journal, No. 352, August 1997, page 11.
21. Robert M. and Ryan Wood, "Another Look at Majestic," MUFON UFO Journal No. 371, March 1999, page 11.

Validating the New Majestic Documents (2 MB) by Robert M. Wood
Paper presented at the International MUFON Symposium in St. Louis, MO, on July 15, 2000.