Paul F. Holloway

B.S., Aerospace Engineering, 1960
Honorary Doctorate of Science, Old Dominion University, 1994

As early as grade school, Paul Holloway’s teachers and fellow classmates marveled at his mind and knew he was destined to become a scientist of some sort. Mr. Holloway only went on one job interview at the start of his career and jumped at the chance to work at NASA Langley Research Center as an aerospace research engineer during an important time for the space industry in the U.S. His career soared and when he retired from the center in January of 1997, he had held the position of director for the past five years. Today, Mr. Holloway remains an internationally recognized authority in hypersonic aerodynamics, boundary-layer transition and flow separation, analysis of entry flight mechanics, advanced launch vehicles, and earth orbital and planetary space missions.

Mr. Holloway graduated with honors from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in aeronautical engineering in 1960. He also completed two years of graduate study work in physics at the College of William and Mary. Attending the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in Boston gave him the chance to rub elbows with other senior executives from 31 countries around the world. The practice-orientated program was designed to prepare senior corporate leaders to deal with issues and problems facing top-level management during the 1990s. In 1994, Old Dominion University awarded Mr. Holloway an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree.

When Mr. Holloway served as NASA Langley’s Director, he managed NASA’s aeronautical and space research activities as well as 2,800 civil service employees and 2,200 contract personnel. Prior to this appointment, he served for seven years as NASA Langley’s Deputy Director, responsible for overseeing its science, research, and technology space programs. And, from 1975 until 1985, he was the Director for Space, responsible for advanced space transportation, planetary entry, space station and Langley’s premier atmospheric sciences program. Throughout his career, he has stressed interdisciplinary approaches to solving critical technical problems that often became vital in resolving U.S. Congressional concerns about the space program.

In retirement, Mr. Holloway consulted with the aerospace industry and NASA and served for four years on the College Board of Thomas Nelson Community College. Sadly, Mr. Holloway passed in September of 2013.

Select Awards and Recognitions
Outstanding Leadership Medal, 1980
Presidential Rank of Meritorious Service, 1981
The Presidential Rank of Distinguished Service, 1987, 1993
President Ronald Reagan conferred the 1987
NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal and Equal Opportunity Medal, 1981, 1992
Distinguished Service Medal, 1992
The Peninsula Engineers’ Council Engineer of the Year, 1997
Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Fellow of the American Astronautical Society