Milton Silveira
NASA Chief Engineer during the Challenger investigation.
Milton Antone Silveira was an American aerospace engineer, pilot and academic of Portuguese descent. He served as NASA's Chief Engineer between 1983 and 1986, and was involved in numerous crewed spaceflight programs including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. He also contributed to the investigation into the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Milton Antone Silveira
- Born
- 4 May 1929
- Birthplace
- Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
- Died
- 11 July 2013
- Place of death
- McLean, Virginia
- Known for
- Involvement in multiple NASA spaceflight programs
- Occupation
- Aerospace engineer
- Education
- University of Vermont
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Tech
- University of Houston
Facts from the source article.
Early life, education and military career
Silveira was born in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, to parents who were immigrants from the Azores. He earned a pilot's license at age 16, attended Fairhaven High School, and received a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont, where he led the flying club. He joined NACA in June 1951, then served as an army aviator and Chief Engineering and Maintenance Officer of the U.S. 8th Army in Korea. Returning to NACA in 1955, he earned an MSc in aeronautical engineering from the University of Virginia in 1960 and did postgraduate work at Virginia Tech and the University of Houston.
NASA career
When NACA became NASA in 1958, Silveira continued as an aerospace technologist. He became deputy chief of the Aerodynamics Branch of NASA's Advanced Spaceflight Technology Division in 1964, overseeing development of the Little Joe II launch vehicle and working on Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab. He served as engineering manager of the Space Shuttle program from 1969 to 1973. After becoming NASA's Chief Engineer in 1983, he collaborated with an independent review board investigating the Challenger disaster. He retired from NASA in 1987, then worked briefly for Ford Aerospace Corporation and later as a consultant for the United States Department of Defense.
Personal life
Silveira was survived by four children: Leeland, Douglas, Carolyn and Scott. He maintained a long association with the University of Vermont, conducting a regular teleconference class for its engineering school and serving on the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Board, and established the Milton Silveira annual award for junior faculty. He also served as a docent of the National Gallery of Art and was an accomplished amateur gourmet chef.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Milton Silveira born?
Milton Silveira was born on 4 May 1929 in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
When did Milton Silveira die?
Milton Silveira died on 11 July 2013 in McLean, Virginia.
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