Dr. Paul Bevilaqua has spent much of his career developing Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft. He joined Lockheed Martin as Chief Aeronautical Scientist and became Chief Engineer of the Skunk Works, where he played a leading role in creating the Joint Strike Fighter. He invented the dual cycle propulsion system that made it possible to build a stealthy supersonic VSTOL Strike Fighter, and suggested that conventional and Naval variants of this aircraft could be developed to create a common, affordable aircraft for all three services. He subsequently led the engineering team that demonstrated the feasibility of building this aircraft.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, he was Manager of Advanced Programs at Rockwell International’s Navy aircraft plant, where he led the design of VSTOL interceptor and transport aircraft. He began his career as an Air Force officer at Wright Patterson AFB, where he developed a lift system for an Air Force VSTOL Search and Rescue Aircraft. He received degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University.

He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He is also the recipient of a USAF Scientific Achievement Award, AIAA and SAE Aircraft Design Awards, AIAA and AHS VSTOL Awards, and Lockheed Martin AeroStar and Nova Awards.

This presentation will describe the technical and program challenges involved in developing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and show how an innovative idea became an international program with engineers from half a dozen countries developing a single replacement aircraft for multiple aircraft types. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was developed to meet the multirole fighter requirements of the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and our allies. The Air Force variant is a supersonic, single engine stealth fighter. The Navy variant has a larger wing and more robust structure in order to operate from aircraft carriers, while the Marine Corps variant incorporates an innovative propulsion system that can be switched from a turbofan cycle to a turbo shaft cycle for vertical takeoff and landing. This propulsion system enabled the X-35 to become the first aircraft in history to fly at supersonic speeds, hover, and land vertically. The development team won the Collier Trophy, which recognizes “the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America” each year, for this accomplishment.

Mark Hasara is a former Air Force KC-135 pilot, international businessman, and consultant in the defense industry. Directing the creation of the world’s only graduate-level air refueling planning and operations course, he deployed five times after 9/11 leading a team of 30 international airmen responsible for all air refueling operations across three continents. Mark authored the book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit in November 2017 published by Simon and Schuster describing his experiences and relating them to core elements of success on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or everyday life. Delivering over 5000 presentations to military and international business leaders, he continues to write and speak about experiences and lessons learned from four wars and the business world. Mark and his wife Valerie are the parents of five wonderful kids and currently live in Utah.

1. Air Refueling History

     Math in Public: A Tanker Driver's Echo-Footprint

     First air refueling: Wes May's gas can in 1921

     Lowell Smith and John Richter: Rockwell Field San Diego in 1923

     The Germans made us do it!: The Question Mark

     Sir Alan Cobham and Flight Refueling Limited: First Patented System

     First Combat hook up: June 1951 of Korean War

     Chrome Domes and Brass Knobs: The Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Afghanistan

     The 509th Weapons School

     9/11

     Coalition Partners

     Afghanistan: Opening Night

     Battle for Robert's Ridge

3. Iraqi Invasion

     Operation Southern Focus

     F-117 attack on Dora Farms

     "Shock and Awe" becomes "Mad and Pissed Off"

     KI/CAS

     Thunder Runs

4. Sluggo's Dream Tanker