Arthur M. Dula

Arthur M. ("Art") Dula is a space lawyer, a patent attorney, the literary executor for a major science fiction author, and the CEO of the private spaceflight company, Excalibur Almaz.

Art Dula's law practice focuses on aerospace and intellectual property law, technology licensing, business start-up and development, patents, contracts, corporations, securities, copyrights and trademarks. [cite news |work=The Space Review |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/860/1 |title=Opening wallets, closing windows |first=Jeff |last=Foust |date=2007-04-30] His clients include U.S. and Russian aerospace firms. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Texas State and Federal Courts. He is also a registered broker with US State Department, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Defense Trade Controls.

Since 1980, Art Dula has co-founded several aerospace companies.cite news |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |title=In the U.S. space capital, he's boosting Soviet rockets |first=Fawn |last=Vrazo |date=1988-05-16] Eagle Aerospace provided engineering expertise for NASA and U.S. aerospace companies. Space Services, Inc., secured the first US regulatory approval of a private space launch. In 1982, it launched the first private U.S. space vehicle, the "Conestoga", from Matagorda Island, Texas. Spacehab, Inc., builds payload bay Spacehab modules for the U.S. space shuttle. Space Commerce Corporation was the first U.S.-Russian aerospace joint venture. [cite news |date=1987-12-01 |work=The New York Times |title=Americans See Rocket In Soviet |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5D71331F932A35751C1A961948260 |first=William J. |last=Broad] It sold a Soviet Proton rocket launch to Hughes Aerospace in 1987, and marketed remote sensing radar images. [cite news |work=NPR Morning Edition |title=Soviet Space Program Seeks Alternate Funds |date=1991-09-10 |first=Michael |last=Skoler] Tethers Unlimited, Inc., won seven patents on space tether systems, and secured over $2 million in research contracts. Starcraft Boosters, Inc., has contracts with US Air Force and NASA for the "StarBooster" launching system. Excalibur Almaz, Ltd., owns several Almaz Space System space capsules and space stations, and intends to begin launching its spacecraft in 2008.Fact|date=August 2008

Art Dula is literary executor for the major science fiction writer, Robert A. Heinlein. He also serves as Trustee of the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust. [cite news |work=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3887126.html |title=Leader in space tourism wins prize |date=2006-05-25 |first=Mark |last=Carreau] In 2006, the Trust awarded the first Heinlein Prize, in the amount of $500,000, to Peter Diamandis, for outstanding personal initiative and significant progress in commercial space activities. [cite web |first=Amy |last=Baxter |work=The Heinlein Prize |title=The Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization Awarded to Dr. Peter H. Diamandis |url=http://www.heinleinprize.com/1stPrize/index.htm |date=2006-07-07]

He has taught space law for the University of Houston, and was a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Akron. He consulted NASA on the space shuttle payload contract, and served as legal advisor to the U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. He has been awarded the Space Pioneer Award from the National Space Society, and the Gagarin Medal from the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics.

Personal life

Art Dula was born, February 6, 1947, in Arlington, Virginia. He received a bachelors degree in chemistry and mathematics, from Eastern New Mexico University, in 1970, and his Juris Doctor, in civil law, from Tulane University, in 1975. He is married to Tamea A. Dula. They live in Houston, Texas. They have two sons, who are presently attending college.

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