Scope and Contents

This collection consists of .75 linear ft of Robert L. Foster's professional papers, including the following types of material: reports, correspondence, photographs, invitations, McDonnell newsletters, interoffice memorandums, and newspaper articles. The papers relate to his long association with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, and his roles in Project Mercury, Project Gemini, and at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Biographical / Historical

Robert L. Foster (1922-1994) received a BSEE from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1952. Prior to his time at Georgia, Foster was in the US Army Corps of Engineers from 1942-1950. In 1953, he began his long association with McDonnell Douglas Corporation. At McDonnell Douglas Foster had a number of important positions, including the following: Group Engineer for Advanced Design (1958-1959), Senior Group Engineer for Project Mercury (1959-1960), Engineering Manager for Project Mercury (1960-1965) , and Operation manager for Project Gemini (1965-1967). Later in 1967, Foster was transferred from Cape Kennedy to Vandenberg Air Force Base where he served as base manager (1967-1968), Deputy Director (1968-1969) and finally Director (1969 -).