Rick Tubridy is a seasoned professional whose extensive career spanned over three decades at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. His expertise lies in the process of solid rocket booster (SRB) recovery and refurbishment, a critical component of the space program's reusable launch system. As a diver and corrosive engineer, Tubridy played a pivotal role in the development of innovative solutions to the challenges posed by the marine environment on space hardware. He was instrumental in creating a diver-applied anode, a technique designed to mitigate the corrosive effects of saltwater on the recovered boosters. His hands-on approach and problem-solving skills were crucial in the retrieval and disassembly of SRBs, ensuring their safe and efficient processing post-mission. Tubridy's career is marked by his involvement in significant missions and engineering projects. He took pride in his work on the Ares I-X mission, where he served as a subject matter expert and implemented advanced deep-sea diving techniques. Tubridy's career also reflects the evolution of diving equipment and safety protocols, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to the safety of his team. His personal life intersects with his professional one, as his wife's role as a cook on the retrieval ships paints a picture of a family dedicated to supporting space exploration endeavors. 

Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Tubridy delves into his role as a diver and corrosive engineer, detailing the development of a diver-applied anode designed to combat the corrosive effects of saltwater on space hardware. He shares insights into the complex process of retrieving and disassembling SRBs, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and the challenges faced in minimizing hardware loss and corrosion. Tubridy recounts his most memorable mission, the Ares I-X, where he served as a subject matter expert and pioneered innovative deep-sea diving solutions. He also reflects on the somber recovery efforts following the Challenger disaster, highlighting the critical operations involved in salvaging SRBs from space shuttle missions. The interview further explores Tubridy's involvement in engineering projects aimed at improving the mating and disassembly of boosters, the evolution of diving equipment, and the advancements in safety procedures. He shares anecdotes about the use of recompression chambers for divers and his participation in external tank barge operations. Adding a personal dimension to the narrative, Tubridy mentions his wife's role as a cook on the retrieval ships, illustrating a family's commitment to supporting space exploration. This oral history interview provides a rich and detailed account of Rick Tubridy's career and the technological and human elements that have shaped the space program's SRB recovery efforts.