Byron Lavoy Cockrell

[2] He attended Clay County High School and later earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Auburn University.

[3] In April 1949, the Rohm and Haas Company signed a contract with the U.S. Army Missile Command near Redstone Arsenal to do research and development work on rockets and jet propulsion.

[1] Due to the hazardous nature of the propellants, Cockrell had to design casting equipment and facilities that could be operated remotely.

[1] Cockrell's research also showed that rocket efficiency could be scaled when corrections were made for heat-loss and two-phase-flow effects.

[5] While working for Vought Systems in Texas, Cockrell conducted design and analysis to define a detailed configuration capable of meeting the stringent performance, structural, and mass properties requirements set forth in their new government contract.

[6] Cockrell's expertise also served Vought Systems when they became the prime contractor for the development of the Scout launch vehicle which were to place small satellites into orbit around the Earth.

However, because of his expertise and time frame; Cockrell was more than likely involved in the Army's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) program.

[10] According to Article III 3.2, of the AIAA's Constitution: Associate Fellows shall be persons who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done work of outstanding merit or have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics.After retirement, he remained in Virginia where he spent time with his children, three grandsons and six granddaughters.