Mark May 13th on your calendar. Come and find out how you, as a NASA alumnus, can be a part of the exciting technology development taking place in Hampton Roads. With NASA, a number of universities, and several research institutions, Hampton Roads is one of the hotbeds of technology development and entrepreneurial startup creation in the country. On May 13th, the Langley Alumni Association will present James Doe, Associate Director of REaKTOR Technology Innovation Center. Find out how you can help. All skills needed.
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro issued the following statement regarding the nomination by President Donald Trump of Matt Anderson Wednesday to serve as the agency’s deputy administrator:
“As a retired United States Air Force colonel and executive of the Space Force Association, Matt Anderson brings extensive knowledge of space operations, aeronautics expertise, and industry experience. If confirmed, he would join NASA’s leadership team at a time when partnerships and a sharpened focus on mission are essential to our continued success. Along with President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA, Jared Isaacman, he will strengthen collaboration across sectors and help NASA advance exploration, serve the American people, and deliver results for the benefit of all.”
Throughout his over 24-year tenure in the U.S. Air Force, Anderson culminated his career as the U.S. Transportation Command’s senior liaison officer to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM). He retired as a colonel Oct. 1, 2021. Anderson is currently a vice president and Space Force & Air Force client executive at CACI. He also serves as the chief growth officer at the Space Force Association.
An alum of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Anderson holds degrees in biology, aeronautical science, and leadership & counseling. In 2024, Anderson was named by the Washington Exec as one of their “Top Space Execs to Watch.”
Recently, there have been several changes to the website. Most importantly, please join us in welcoming Amy Radford to the website team! We greatly appreciate her strong technical background and knowledge, plus her personal energy and interest in promoting the LAA!
The home page is now more news-oriented. New articles will be posted to the home page, which will show the ten most recent posts. Older posts will roll off the page, but can be viewed using the newly-added Search bar just below the menu. You can search on a person’s name, a keyword, or a date, and a list of search results is shown. Click on Home in the menu to return to the home page.
Our “In memory of individuals” page has been split into two pages due to technical limitations of our website hosting platform. The most recent entries are on the In Memory Of… (2025 to Present) page, which can be accessed from the website menu. To view older memorials, either click on the link at the top of the “In Memory (2025)” page, or use the new Search bar, as described above, to search for an individual by name.
There is also a new photo gallery, which can be viewed by clicking on Gallery in the menu. The Gallery shows thumbnails of photos from LAA activities such as our summer picnics, holiday luncheons, and other events. Click on any thumbnail to view the full-size photo.
We plan to make more updates to improve our website, but we welcome your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts and suggestions.
Video and slides from this presentation have now been posted. Photos from the presentation are on the Gallery.
We are pleased to announce our speaker for our April 8, 2025, LAA General Membership meeting will be Mr. Bradley Weidenhammer, from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Bradley Weidenhammer is the Operations Manager on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project, where he is responsible for overseeing construction work zones, Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) installation, and tunnel systems design and installation. His 21-year career at VDOT includes time at the Williamsburg Residency as well as the construction of the Midtown Tunnel between Portsmouth and Norfolk. Bradley is a graduate of Georgia Tech!
On February 21, 2025, we lost our 2024 President of the LAA, Olaf Storaasli. A celebration of Olaf’s life will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Grace Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge, 131 W. Gettysburg Ave. Friends are invited to greet the family at 2:00 p.m.; the service will begin at 3:00 p.m., with reception to follow. The service will be live streamed and viewed on demand on the Grace Lutheran Oak Ridge’s YouTube channel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church’s Memorial Fund, designated to music; to The Oak Ridge History Museum; or to a charity of one’s choice. We invite all who knew and loved Olaf to join us in appreciating his memorable life and legacy. May his memory bring comfort and inspiration to all.
The full obituary can be viewed on The Oak Ridger at https://www.oakridger.com/obituaries/pokr1116500.
