HAROLD (HAL) G. BEHL
He grew up in Long Beach, New York, and has a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree from the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aeronautics of New York University. He did graduate and specialized study at UCLA, Ohio State, and UNM. Was a partner in a Graphic Arts company in New York City for about 10 years. Presently retired from a career as an independent consultant with over 40 years of experience in Aerospace and Weapon technology activities ranging from concept definition, design, analysis, test, contract and program management, through integration and operation of major weapon and space systems. Clients included the Strategic Defense Initiative Office (SDIO) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Managed successful, cost effective, major program activities for several commercial companies - RCA, McDonnell Douglas, Western Union. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, mainly as an engineer at the Oak Ridge Tennessee facility of the Manhattan (Atomic Bomb) Project. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and has served on the Institute's national technical committees on Solid Propellant Rockets, Launch Vehicles and Missiles, Terrestrial Energy, and Systems Effectiveness and Safety. He is a Fellow of the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering and was the organizer and General Chairman of the AIAA/USAF/NASA Conference on Launch Operations held at Cocoa Beach. At the National Atomic Museum, he is a Foundation Charter Member, long term Trustee, Chief Scrounger, and Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. He is also, currently, the President of UNM's Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Association, and a long term Board member, as well as a Board member of the Cavalcade of Wings, an Aviation historical organization. He has been very happily married since 1944 to Reggie Behl, an artist and teacher, has three married sons, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and many granddogs and cats. He and Reggie have lived in sixteen homes, all over the country, since they were married!