Education
Stanford University; University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Stanford University; University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Eggers specialized in hypersonic and spaceflight research including the development of new wind tunnel and ballistic range facilities. He went to work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory in 1944 after completing the V-12 Navy College Training Program. In 1954, he became Division Chief of the Vehicle Environment Division, which was composed of a physics branch, an entry simulation branch, a structural dynamics branch, the 3.5 foot hypersonic wind tunnel branch and the hypervelocity ballistic range branch.
In 1958, Eggers headed up the Manned Satellite Team, which was to design a practical system for a satellite while recommending a suitable research program
This ultimately lead to Ames developing and managing the Pioneer program of planetary exploration probes. This work lead directly to the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber.
In May 1964, Eggers was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology. He became Assistant Administrator for Policy in January 1968, and served until March 1971.
From 1969 to 1970, Eggers was a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Following his career at National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Eggers took a position as Assistant Director for Research Applications at the National Science Foundation. His assistant, C. A. "Sy" Syvertson became Director of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center during probably its most productive years.