He attended McKenzie High School, graduating in 1951, and later studied at Troy State College and Auburn University.
After graduating, Odom worked for the Chemstrand Corporation in Decatur, Alabama[2] for six months before being drafted by the Army.
After completing basic training, he was recommended to the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, where he joined the launching and handling lab[3] as a systems engineer.
His first notable appointment was as chief of Engineering and Test Operations for the Saturn V launch vehicle's second stage.
[2] He also led the Shuttle's source evaluation board, picking the contractor for the external tank and helping to negotiate the contract.