Background
Tapley, Byron Dean was born on January 16, 1933 in Charleston, Mississippi, United States. Son of Ebbie Byron and Myrtle (Myers) Tapley.
Tapley, Byron Dean was born on January 16, 1933 in Charleston, Mississippi, United States. Son of Ebbie Byron and Myrtle (Myers) Tapley.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University Texas, Austin, 1956. Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics, University Texas, Austin, 1958. Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Mechanics, University Texas, Austin, 1960.
Engineer Structural Mechanics Research Laboratory University Texas, Austin, 1954-1958, instructor mechanical engineering, 1958, professor aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics, since 1960, chairman department aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics, 1966-1977, Woolrich professor engineering, 1974-1980, director Center Space Research, since 1983, Clare Cockrell Williams chair aerospace engineering, since 1984. Director Texas Space Grant Consortium, since 1990. Member advisory committee on guidance control and navigation National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1966-1967, committee on space research, panel I, 1974-1976, chairman region IV, engineering council on professional development, 1974-1976.
Chairman geodesy committee National Research Council, 1981-1984, member aerospace and space engineering board, 1984-1986, member space science board, chairman committee on earth studies, 1988-1991. Board directors Texas Space Grant Consortium.
Fellow: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (chairman committee astrodynamics 1976-1978, Mechanics and Control of Flight award 1989), American Geophysical Union (president geodesy section 1984-1986, Charles A. Whitten medal 2001). Member: International Astronomical Union, Society Engineering Science, American Astronautical Society (president division dynamic astronomy 1988-1989, Dirk Brouwer award 1995), American Academy Mechanics, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Academy of Engineering, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Gamma Tau, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Xi.
Married Sophia Philen, August 28, 1959. Children: Mark Byron, Craig Philen.