1988 Eugene J. Zehr

1988 KELLY JOHNSON AWARD
EUGENE J. ZEHR

The 1988 "Kelly" Johnson Award for outstanding achievement in the Flight Test Engineering discipline is awarded to Mr. Eugene J. (Gene) Zehr.

Eugene J. Zehr graduated from Washington University with a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950 and a M.S. Degree in Engineering Management in 1964. He served in the Air Force from 1951 thru 1955 flying F-80 aircraft in Korea and as an instructor in F-86D aircraft in the United States. Gene has been a member of McDonnell Aircraft Flight Test since 1955 in a variety of assignments.

In April 1955 he began his career in the Data Analysis Department in Flight Test working on the F-101A autopilot and lateral stability programs. Later Gene was assigned to a tour at Edwards AFB on the F-101A pitch up and spin programs. This was followed by a F101B and MB-1 missile program at Hollaman AFB and a SAGE air defense program at Hanscomb Field and Otis AFB, Massachusetts.

As a supervisor of data analysis he was assigned again to Edwards AFB in 1960 on the F-4 program in charge of all flight test analysis. There was a period of time in 1964 spent an special anti-collision study team which later was the basis for the MDC collision avoidance system.

In 1964 Gene was assigned as a Senior Engineer in Charge of the F-4 AWG-10 radar program in St. Louis followed by his appointment as MCAIR Facility Manager at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland during a period of intense F-4 testing, including the Royal Navy F-4K aircraft.

Upon returning to St. Louis in 1968 he was put in charge of an instrumentation development group responsible for designing a new data system for the FX competition. The FX was later designated the F-15.

In 1974 Gene was promoted to Department Manager of the Instrumentation Department reporting to the Director of flight Test. This position was responsible for all instrumentation procurement, development and operation for all MCAIR test airplanes.

In August 1978 he was placed in charge of the Flight Test Engineering Department, a position he now holds. This department is responsible for the test planning and conduct for all McDonnell Aircraft fighter programs including the F-15, F-18, AV-8, YF-23, A-12 as well as many other classified programs.

An active and dedicated member of SFTE for many years, Gene Zehr has provided leadership and inspiration for us all to achieve the high ideals established by the society. His involvement with the SFIE includes a term as President of the St. Louis Chapter in 1977-1978, Program Chairman of the 1984 SFTE Symposium in St. Louis, and Administrative Chairman of the AIAA/SFTE/SETP First Flight Testing Conference in November 1981 at Las Vegas. Fran its beginning in 1986, Gene has been instrumental at the national level in the establishment of the SFTE Tehnical Council, and currently serves as its first Chairman. In addition to his association with SFTE, Gene is a member of AIAA, holding the grade of Associate Fellow.

An experienced, dedicated, and enthusiastic leader, Mr. Eugene J. Zehr exemplifies the best of our profession, and we are proud to select him as the 1988 representative of our Society's purpose and goals.