Director of Engineering, PEMDAS Technologies and Innovations
B.A. Mathematics 1978, Texas Tech University
M.S. ASE 1981, The University of Texas at Austin
Test Pilot School 1991, United States Air Force
Royal College of Defence Studies 2004, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom
Paul Lockhart is the Director of Engineering for PEMDAS Technologies and Innovations, a Service Disabled, Veteran Owned, Small Business founded by his wife, Mary Lockhart. He oversees the development lines for PEMDAS to include aircraft mounted atmospheric sensors, drone satellite antennas and data analytics for real-time weather predictions for the commercial and government aviation community.
Lockhart received his B.A. in mathematics from Texas Tech University and his M.S. in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, England.
Commissioned in the Air Force in 1981, Lockhart served 26 years on active duty. During his service, he served as a fighter pilot in Europe and as a F-16 test pilot in the US. He was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1996. After the Shuttle Columbia disaster, Lockhart returned to the Air Force by attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, the United Kingdom’s military’s premier institution for grooming senior leadership. After graduation, he was assigned to the Air Staff, Headquarters USAF, Pentagon.
Retiring from the Air Force in 2006, Lockhart then spent two years at NASA headquarters as special assistant to the Associate Administrator and as NASA’s liaison to the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office. As an Air Force test pilot in the 1990s, Paul performed testing for the Air Force’s most current weapons technology. He was the first pilot to test a GPS weapon from a F-16 fighter aircraft, laying the foundation for much of America’s current precision weapons. As a NASA Astronaut, Lockhart twice piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station, directing six space walks in repair and construction of the ISS. He accumulated over 26 days in space in support of these missions.
Later, in private industry as a senior executive for a NASA and DoD contractor, Lockhart directed the capture and execution of the $1.9 Billion Kennedy Space Center Engineering Services Contract. Since 2015, he has directed the design, development and testing for PEMDAS of a new class of atmospheric sensors for unmanned aerial systems for use by the Army Special Operations Command.
Lockhart currently serves on the Board of the Military Bowl, benefiting the USO and members of the Armed Forces, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA, and the Aero-Club of Washington, DC. He is also past chair and member of the ASE/EM External Advisory Committee at UT Austin. With over 5,000 hours in more than 30 different aircraft and the Space Shuttle, Lockhart is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal, Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, National Defense Service Medal, Achievement Medal and numerous other service recognitions and ribbons. He is also the recipient of two NASA Space Flight Medals and one NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He is a distinguished graduate of both ROTC and the Air Force Squadron Officer School.
Lockhart lives outside Washington DC, with his wife, Mary. They have two daughters, Jenna and Mary. He and Mary are new grandparents. He is still seeking a good name for his new role and is accepting recommendations. Lockhart is an avid hunter and horseman.
