A. Thomas Young is a distinguished figure in the field of space exploration, with a career marked by significant contributions to NASA and the aerospace industry. His early fascination with space led him to work on pivotal projects such as the Lunar Orbiter and various Mars missions. Young's tenure at NASA during its formative years was characterized by a dynamic and hands-on approach, particularly during the Apollo program and the development of the Viking spacecraft.

Adrian Coulby was born in 1933, and spent most of his life in Newburg. His father, Edgar Coulby, owned and operated the Potomac Fishing Oyster Company, an oyster house at Rock Point. As a young boy, Adrian spent a significant amount of time at the oyster house, where he developed a fondness for the bustling environment filled with crab pickers, oyster shuckers, and fishermen. Although his memories of this time are somewhat vague, he recalls helping with tasks such as cleaning the oyster house and interacting with the workers.

On May 19, 2020, Molly Graham interviewed Albert “Benjie” Spencer as part of the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. Spencer retired in 2024 as the Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering Standards Division for the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) in the Office of Planning and Programming for Service Delivery. His responsibilities included implementing policy, providing end-to-end system engineering oversight, assessing risks, and ensuring consistent engineering processes and standards throughout the organization.

Oral history interview with Alexander E. “Sandy” MacDonald, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, former Director, Forecast Systems Laboratory  
Interview conducted: October 2010  
Run time: 50:28    
Topics: PROFS, AWIPS, NWS Modernization R&D    

Ann Terbush Schaefer was born in San Francisco in 1947. Her family moved to New York, where Ann attended the High School of Music and Art, before moving again to Washington, DC, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Ann started her college career at Wells College in Aurora, New York. She transferred to George Washington University with a fine arts degree in 1969. She eventually also earned her master’s in public administration from American University in 1983.

Dr. Brian Dailey is a renowned expert in space exploration and international relations, with a significant contribution to the Shuttle-Mir Project. His career began in the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he developed a deep understanding of Russian space issues, having visited Russia twice with committee members. His expertise in this area led to his appointment as the executive secretary of the National Space Council under President George H. W. Bush, succeeding Mark J. Albrecht in June 1992.

Craig McLean was born in Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1957. His father was a first-generation immigrant from Scotland who served in the US Navy during World War II. His mother was a second-generation daughter of Sicilian immigrants. He grew up along the Passaic River, was a self-described "river rat," became a certified diver, and worked for a boatyard next to his house. At Rutgers College, Craig studied marine biology and zoology and worked on research cruises with NOAA ships. During the summers, he worked in the commercial and retail dive industry.

Crystal Jordan, 33 years old at the time of the interview, is the owner-operator of a blue crab and oyster vessel in Solomon's Island, MD. As the daughter of a fishermen, she grew up on the water, and took over her father's operation at the age of 20 when he passed away from cancer. Her vessel is called "Some Beach." 

Scope and Content Note

Daniel R. Mulville, a former Navy employee, embarked on a distinguished career at NASA in 1986 following the tragic Challenger accident. His tenure at NASA was marked by significant contributions to the agency's engineering and safety standards. As the Director of the Engineering Division in the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, Mulville played a pivotal role in the development of NASA's spacecraft design and development standards.

Donald Mattingly, also known as "Duck," was born on May 4, 1944. He was raised in the seventh district, in a place he refers to as his home place. His father, Joseph Olin Mattingly, was one of the biggest seafood dealers in St. Mary’s County. Donald grew up in a community where oyster shucking was a common occupation, with many people, mostly people of color, working in the shuck houses. He recalls his father going as far as Piney Point to pick up shuckers to bring down to shuck oysters.