Charles Alvard Rodenberger

Charles A. Rodenberger was initially a petroleum engineer. He changed the focus of his career from petroleum to aerospace engineering. He earned a master’s degree in Engineering from Southern Methodist University and worked for General Dynamics Aerospace. For General Dynamics, he designed rocket fuel tanks that were considered by NASA for use in the second stage of the Saturn V launch during the Apollo missions, but the design by North American Aviation was accepted for the spacecraft. He then received a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas while he taught in the engineering department at Texas A&M University in College Station.

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Charles Alvard Rodenberger, American aerospace engineer, consultant. Registered professional engineer, Texas. National Science Foundation fellow, 1964-1965; recipient Distinguished Teaching award Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1962.

Background

Rodenberger, Charles Alvard was born on September 11, 1926 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States. Son of Darcy Owen and Kathryn Martha (Percival) Rodenberger.

Education

Student, University Arkansas, 1944—1945. Bachelor of Science in General Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1948. Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, 1959.

Doctor of Philosophy in Aeronautical Engineering, University Texas-Austin, 1968.

Career

Petroleum engineer Amoco Oil Corporation, Levelland, Texas, 1948-1951. Chief engineer McGregor Brothers, Odessa, 1953. Petroleum engineer General Crude Oil Corporation, Hamlin, 1954.

Senior design engineer General Dynamics, Fort Worth, 1954-1960. Aerospace engineer National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, summer 1962. Professor aerospace engineering Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, College Station, 1960-1982, professor emeritus, since 1982.

Chairman board Meiller Research, Inc., 1967-1982. President JETS, Incorporated, New York York City, 1977-1979. Consultant Southwest Research Institute, General Motors Corporation, General Dynamics.

Served with United States Army Air Force, 1945, served with United States Air Force, 1951-1953.

Achievements

Charles Alvard Rodenberger has been listed as a noteworthy aerospace engineer, consultant by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Board directors Cross Plains Public Library., since 1986, president, treasurer. Methodist Sunday school teacher, since 1984. Fellow American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (associate).

Member American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers (vice president 1980-1981), Texas Society Professional Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, Creation Research Society, Sigma Xi, Kiwanis Club (president Cross Plains chapter 2002-2003).

Connections

Married Molcie Lou Halsell, September 3, 1949 (deceased April 9, 2009). Children: Kathryn Sue Wilcox, Charles Mark.

Father:
Darcy Owen Rodenberger

Mother:
Kathryn Martha (Percival) Rodenberger

Spouse:
Molcie Lou Halsell

child:
Charles Mark Rodenberger

child:
Kathryn Sue Wilcox Rodenberger