Two Aerodyne Industries employees were joined by partners on the Test and Operations Support Contract (TOSC) at Kennedy Space Center for honors by the National Space Club-Florida Committee.
Elhanon “EW” Hall III was inducted into the Space Worker Hall of Fame while Joseph Jones was named Rising Star during the 2021 Celebrate Space Awards Banquet held Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral.
Four TOSC teammates for Jacobs were also inducted into the Hall of Fame: Randle Clay, Jennifer Hall, Jeff McAlear, and Vijai Prabhudial.
“We are very proud of our 2021 inductees into the prestigious National Space Club Hall of Fame and our first Rising Star honoree,” said Andy Allen, Aerodyne CEO. “They symbolize the best in Aerodyne and Jacobs and I would like to thank the National Space Club for promoting America’s aerospace program by honoring these outstanding individuals.”
TOSC is comprised of the best and brightest and includes subject matter experts at the pinnacle of their discipline – such as Elhanon (E.W.) Hall III of Aerodyne Industries.
E.W. took his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Ga. Tech to SoCal in 1979 to begin a career with the Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International in the Combustion Devices Department, where he supported Space Shuttle Main Engine development and flight engine test and checkout.
In 1984 he and new bride, Kay, relocated to KSC for launch/flight support for Lockheed Space Operations Company (LSOC) and Rocketdyne, respectively. He continued in that function from LSOC to LMSO to United Space Alliance (USA) in support of the Space Shuttle Program. That role continues with TOSC, where E.W. is an integral part of Main Propulsion System/RS25 processing and planning development for the world’s most powerful rocket with the Artemis Program.
In 2020, he received the General Manager’s Award for Integrated Test and Checkout of the Core Stage RS25 and Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage RL10 engines. He also received NASA’s Silver Snoopy and Space Flight Awareness Awards with USA.
E.W. lives in Cocoa Beach with wife, Kay, and daughter Libby. Son Caleb and family live in Atlanta; Ches, also a TOSC engineer and family reside in Titusville; and engineer daughter Abby and husband in Palm Bay.
(The Rising Star Award is given annually to one individual who has made “above & beyond” contributions to the U.S. space program in Florida through technical, educational or leadership activities while still early in their career.)
After years as a Hydropower Mechanic with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and extensive mechanical/diesel experience with the U.S. Air Force, it didn’t take Joseph Jones long to make an impact at KSC.
Hired in 2017 as a Mechanical Engineer for Aerodyne Industries supporting TOSC, Joseph received the company’s prestigious President’s Award in 2018 for substantial contributions to the Crawler Transporter (CT).
Joseph and his teammates have received numerous accolades in the past few years upgrading the CT to support the Space Launch System.
His enthusiasm makes him a natural advocate and he has promoted the space program in print and social media. An adept and engaging speaker, he is often called upon to address organizations about the iconic CT and he volunteers annually for the KSC Open House.
Joseph is also community-minded and has volunteered for the Parent/Teacher Board at Challenger 7 Elementary School in Cocoa, participates in the annual Indian River Lagoon cleanup, and provides weekend support at the Brevard Humane Society.
Joseph earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University.
He and his wife, Kailey, daughter Emiliana, and son Asher live in Port. St. John with puppies Dexter, Hazel and Princess and Sawyer the cat.