James N. Hallock

James Nelson Hallock (born January 23, 1941) is an American physicist. His research and work for the US Government has been lengthy, from Gemini and Apollo missions, to the more recent Columbia Accident Investigation Board, or CAIB. He is the world's leading scientist in Wake Vorticies, and co-authored two patents and has over 150 papers.

Hallock was born in Yonkers, New York, and earned his bachelors degree in 1963, masters degree in 1969, and Ph.D in 1972 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He Still works for the Department of Transportation as a Senior Technical Expert, Air and Space Transportation Safety at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Hallock's career began as a graduate student, working for the MIT Instramentation Lab (later renamed the Apollo Optics Group) in 1963. During this time he gathered information on Earth landmarks to be used by guidance systems on the Apollo and Gemini space missions. He continued his work with NASA's Electronic Research Center until 1970.

In 1970 He left the Research Center to work at the Department of Transportation's Volpe Center. Here he began his lifelong work on Wake Vorticies. In 1986 he was promoted to Division Manager of the Aviation Safety Division, and held that post until 2006. At that time the Secretary of Transportation promoted him to Senior Scientist.

Most recently, in 2003, he was selected to sit on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (or CAIB). Here his expertise was used in determining the final reports and causes of that fateful disaster.

Jim resides in Waltham, Massachusetts, with his wife Georgie and two cats. He has two sons, Alexander and Theodore.