[5] In this role, he worked to realize the potential of very high strength, very light weight fibers being consolidated in a new class of composites.

[1] In September 1973, he became the principal deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for research and development.

In September 1974, he left the Department of Defense to become the associate administrator of the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology.

As the associate administrator for aeronautics and space technology, he was responsible for the management of the research program that will provide the basic science and technology advances that will be required for future military and civil aircraft, and the systems to exploit and explore space.

[5] In 1991 he was named senior vice president for Space Policy and Technology at General Dynamics, operating from an office in Washington, D.C., as well as serving as chairman of the company's Commercial Launch Services subsidiary.