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Dr. Elias currently serves as Executive Vice President and General Manager for Advanced Programs at Orbital. Earlier he served as Orbital's Chief Technical Officer from 1996 to 1997 and as Corporate Senior Vice President from 1992 to 1996. In 1989 Dr. Elias was named as Orbital's first Vice President for Engineering. From 1987 to 1991 he led the technical team that designed and built the Pegasus air-launched booster flying as launch vehicle operator on the carrier aircraft for the rocket's first and fourth flights. He also led the design teams of Orbital's APEX and SeaStar satellites and the X-34 hypersonic research vehicle.
Dr. Elias came to Orbital from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he held various teaching and research positions including the Boeing Chair in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. During the 1970's he worked on the design of the Space Shuttle Orbiter avionics system at Draper Laboratory where he originated the guidance strategy currently used for Shuttle landings.
Dr. Elias holds B.S. M.S. E.A.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics the American Astronautical Society and the International Academy of Astronautics. His awards include the 1991 AIAA Engineer of the Year AIAA Aircraft Design Award and AAS Brouwer Award. He is also a co-recipient of the National Medal of Technology and the National Air and Space Museum Trophy. Dr. Elias has authored several publications and patents holds FAA Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor certificates and is a licensed radio amateur. | 