Year Inducted: 1995
James A. Blackwell, Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but has lived most of his life in places where the aerospace industry is predominant. Receiving a bachelor of aerospace engineering from The University of Alabama in 1962 and a master of aeronautical engineering from the University of Virginia in 1966, Micky Blackwell is a prominent figure in the nation’s effort to maintain James A. Blackwell, Jr. Engineering a Strong Air Defense air defense superiority. Along with his mentor, Richard T. Whitcomb, he is responsible for development of the supercritical wing that allows transport aircraft to fly close to the speed of sound.
Joining Lockheed-Georgia Company in 1969 as a research engineer, he advanced rapidly to positions as engineering program manager for special projects and staff aerodynamics in the department of advanced flight sciences. For an additional two years, he served as chief engineer for special projects.
Blackwell moved to Lockheed-California in 1984 as director for engineering research and technology for the Lockheed Advanced Aeronautics Company, but returned to the Georgia operations in 1986 as vice president of engineering.
When Lockheed-Georgia and Lockheed California consolidated in December 1987 as Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company (LACS), Mr. Blackwell was given the task of directing the research, technology, and engineering effort as general manager and also served as vice president. He was named vice president and general manager of the F-22 Team Program Office in December 1990, heading up the LASC/Boeing/Lockheed Fort Worth Company (formerly General Dynamics) partnership building the nation’s next air superiority aircraft.
In April 1993, Blackwell was named president, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company. In this position, as in all the others, Blackwell has been called upon to use his engineering expertise to guide and direct other engineers and staff in the execution of very complex designs and prototypes for defense aircraft.
In recognition of his renown in the field, Blackwell has been elected to Fellow status in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has served on NASA’s Space Shuttle Review Team, Cryogenic Wind Tunnel Review Team, and Aeronautical Advisory Committee. He is also a charter member of the AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Technical Committee. A recognized authority in the areas of subsonic and transonic aerodynamics, he is widely published in trade journals.
Community and educational service has not gone unattended during his very busy career. He has found time to serve as president of a local high school Choral Booster Club, as a member of the National Engineering Advisory Board for Mercer University, and as a college counselor. Mr. Blackwell now serves as a trustee of Mercer University.
While in college, Micky Blackwell was elected to membership in Tau Beta Pi, Pi Mu Epsilon and Sigma Gamma Tau. He was named a 150th Anniversary Distinguished Engineering Fellow by The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering in 1988.
A strong engineering education and continued application and upgrading of his skills have made Micky Blackwell one of America’s finest in his field. We applaud his efforts.
