About the author.Francis J. Hale is a Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University, Raleigh. He received his BS from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his SM in controls and instrumentation, and ScD in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a member of the Order of Daedalians, and holds memberships in many other professional and honor societies. Before joining North Carolina State University in 1965, Professor Hale had an active career in the Army and Air Force where he worked in engineering, research, and development, tested aircraft weapon systems, served as Deputy Director of the Thor and Minuteman Weapon Systems, and was a rated pilot.