Bio:Gary L. Bennett

Dr. Gary L. Bennett is a consultant in aerospace power and propulsion systems who has also written science fiction. With over 40 years of experience in space and terrestrial power and propulsion systems he has held management and technical positions at NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and what is now the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). At NASA, he managed programs in advanced space power and propulsion. At DOE he directed the safety and nuclear operations for the successful radioisotope power programs for the Galileo and Ulysses missions. At NRC he led the reactor operational safety research program. While at the AEC's Space Nuclear Systems Office, he was the flight safety manager for the radioisotope power sources currently in use on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft and two U.S. Air Force communications satellites (LES-8/9). Prior to that he worked on the nuclear rocket program at what is now NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio. He did fundamental reactor safety research at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory. For nine years he was a member of or adviser to U.S. delegations to the United Nations dealing with the use of nuclear power sources in outer space.

He has received numerous awards from NASA, DOE, NRC, and professional societies, including the Aerospace Power Systems Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Schreiber-Spence Space Achievement Award from the Space Technology & Applications International Forum. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The American Physical Society and The British Interplanetary Society. He has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1990) from Boise State University and the Silver & Gold Award (1994) from the University of Idaho. He has authored one book (The Star Sailors, 1980; paperback 2005) and contributed chapters to five other books. He has authored or coauthored over 150 technical papers, reports, and articles on power, propulsion and space missions. His technical papers are on file at the libraries of Boise State University and the University of Idaho.

Bennett was awarded a Ph.D. in physics from Washington State University in 1970. He also earned an A.A.(science) from what is now Boise State University in 1960 and a B.S. (physics-1962) and Master of Nuclear Science (physics-1966) from the University of Idaho. Bennett served six years in the Air National Guard taking courses on guided missiles, intelligence fundamentals and communications. Dr. Bennett was born on 17 January 1940 in Twin Falls, Idaho, the son of Joseph and Adelaide Bennett. He spent his early years in Idaho and most of his professional career in the Washington, D.C. area.