AIAA Congratulates Jerry Florey Written 9 March 2012

Recently Inducted into the Oregon State University Hall of Fame

By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor, AIAA Communications

AIAA congratulates Jerry Florey, AIAA Associate Fellow, past member of the AIAA Board of Directors, and former director of the AIAA Space and Missile Group from 1989 to 1996, for his recent induction into the Oregon State University Hall of Fame. Florey’s induction ceremony took place 24 February, at the annual Oregon Stater Awards Dinner. Each year, OSU’s College of Engineering recognizes outstanding alumni who have used their education to excel professionally and provide inspirational leadership to others. Their work has brought enormous benefits across Oregon State University, the State of Oregon, and beyond.

Dr. Klaus Dannenberg, AIAA deputy executive director, in a letter endorsing Mr. Florey’s induction, stated, “Working closely with the Von Braun Rocket Team during the late 1950's on Intermediate Ballistic Missile's (Jupiter) and the 1960’s Space Race with the Soviets, Jerry was a key part of the technical team that invented and developed the Saturn V rocket that took the nation into space and to the moon. Jerry’s pivotal role in this previously unimaginable accomplishment strongly warrants his induction.”

Florey’s extensive career touched all aspects of space systems – rocket engines, launch vehicles, and satellites and their payloads. His experience includes business development, strategic planning, technical marketing, and extensive program engineering and technology contract management. His name is already engraved on the Smithsonian’s National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor, and he was inducted into the Oregon Hall of Honor in October 2010.

Florey is “pleased and astonished” to be elected to the Oregon State University Hall of Fame, and is touched that the Hall found his accomplishments worthy of inclusion. AIAA congratulates Mr. Jerry Florey on his induction into the Oregon State University Hall of Fame.