• 1970 Bachelor of Arts degree, high honors, University of Maryland, College Park
• 1975 Doctor of Philosophy degree, University of Maryland, College Park
• 1992 Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
• 1993 National Security Studies Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

1. November 1974 - May 1980, Curator of Science and Technology, and Curator of Space Science and Exploration, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
2. May 1980 - January 1982, adjunct professor, University of Maryland, College Park
3. January 1982 - May 1986, Chief Historian, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
4. May 1986 - August 1987, Director, Special Staff Office, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. August 1987 - October 1988, Harold Keith Johnson Visiting Professor of Military History, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
6. October 1988 - September 1990, Executive Historian, Directorate of Advanced Programs, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB, Md.
7. September 1990 - May 1991, Charles A. Lindbergh Visiting Professor of Aerospace History, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
8. June 1991 - November 1991, senior issues and policy analyst, Secretary's Staff Group, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. November 1991 - November 2002, the Air Force Historian, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
10. November 2002 - October 2003, Technical Adviser for Air Force Historic Events, Air Force Centennial of Flight Office, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. October 2003 - present, Senior Adviser for Air and Space Issues, Directorate for Security, Counterintelligence and Special Programs Oversight, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

• 1982 - 1983 AIAA Distinguished Lecturer
• 1984, 1985 Lt. Col. Roy Mase Trophy, Air Force Systems Command
• 1984, 1985 Commander's Distinguished Paper Award, Air Force Systems Command
• 1985 Citation of Honor, Air Force Association
• 1986 Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, U.S. Air Force
• 1988 Commander's Award for Public Service, U.S. Army
• 1990 Ira Eaker Award, Air University
• 1993 Aviation Space Writers Association Premier Award for defense aviation coverage
• 2000 Friend of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
• 2004 Inaugural Fellow, Earthshine Institute of the Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation
• 2005 Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• 2005 Distinguished Lecturer, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• 2005 Annual Award of the Conference of Historic Aviation Writers
• 2007 A. Verville Smithsonian Fellowship

• National Defense Industrial Association
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies
• Air Force Association
• Military Operations Research Society
• Precision Strike Association
• National Association of Scholars
• Exchange Club of Capitol Hill

As Author

As Editor