Dear Colleagues:

The U.S. space program has endured at least four decades of controversy about both Mission and Means. After the Apollo moon landings, it became hard to find missions that would attract the same public support and funding. The International Space Station was preserved only by reducing the costs through international collaboration with Russian, European, Canadian and Japanese space agencies. The space shuttle has been phased out, but the Space Station is still the largest item in NASA’s budget. President George W. Bush called for manned flight to Mars by 2020. President Obama wants to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and to Mars in the 2030s. The asteroid program includes possibly redirecting an asteroid, just in case the film Armageddon became real. It is an “asteroid grand challenge” to “support planetary defense.”

Should space programs focus more on manned exploration, science, or military concerns? What about the growing reliance on private contractors for space flight – the first private company Space Station resupply mission launched on January 9. How can international cooperation fit with ensuring the U.S. is the “world’s leader in space exploration and science discovery… to out-innovate our competitors.” And we should remember that NASA is only part of the U.S. effort in space – as Dr. Heil, former director of the Center for Space Studies and Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology, can testify!

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest

Michael Heil was appointed in January 2007 to oversee and lead the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) strategic initiatives, as well as serve as ambassador for the organization’s economic development efforts. Previous to OAI, Michael had a long and distinguished military career and most previously served as Director, Center for Space Studies and Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology. His experiences include serving as Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate with responsibilities for propulsion and power research facilities both at Wright-Patterson and Edwards Air Force Bases. He oversaw facilities valued at more than $2.1 billion, while leading the efforts of more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and staff. His responsibilities included ensuring the directorate’s $300 million annual budget produced cutting edge technology results for the Air Force and the nation.

A distinguished engineering graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy, class of 1975, Michael Heil was commissioned and immediately pursued his master’s degree in flight structures at Columbia University on a Guggenheim Fellowship. He received a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1986. His service to the nation includes engineering duties on the F-15 and program management on the C-17 and Advanced Cruise Missile. Michael held the positions of Deputy Director of the Astronautics Laboratory, Commander of the Phillips Laboratory and Arnold Engineering Development Center, Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, and Special Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has served in two Air Force acquisition centers, four defense laboratories, a test center, a major command staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the faculties of the Air Force Academy and Air Force Institute of Technology.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library. The Dampeer Room is on the second floor of the library. If you get off the elevators, turn right, pass the first bank of tables, and turn right again. Occasionally we need to use a different room; that will always be announced in the weekly e-mails.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

February 14: The Wizard Behind the Curtain: ALEC and State Legislatures in 2014. With Amy Hanauer, Executive Director, Policy Matters Ohio. ***Alternate Location: 1st Floor Lounge, Guilford House***

February 21: The Profession of Accounting: Where It Came From, Where It Has Been, and Where It’s Going. With Gary Previts, Distinguished University Professor and E. Mandel de Windt Professor of Leadership and Enterprise Development.

February 28: TBA

March 7: Shared Success: Law Enforcement, Faith-Based Organizations, and the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program. With Daniel Flannery Ph.D., Semi J. and Ruth W. Begun Professor and Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education.

March 14: Spring Break

March 21: What the Jewish Experience Tells Us About Religion in America Today. With Peter J. Haas, Abba Hillel Silver Professor of Jewish Studies and Chair, Department of Religious Studies.

March 28: Muslims in the United States. With Justine Howe, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies.

April 4: The “Problem” of Teen Mothers. With Mary Erdmans, Associate Professor of Sociology.

April 11: Is the Federal Government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States Anti-Asian? With Timothy Webster, Assistant Professor of Law and Director, East Asian Legal Studies. ***Alternate Site: Mather House Room 100.***

April 18: Is Cleveland Dying? With John A. Begala, Executive Director, Center for Community Solutions.

April 25: Pope Francis: So Far. With Paul V. Murphy, Professor of History and Director, Institute of Catholic Studies, John Carroll University