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Jimmy Rudolph \u201976 was hired to work at the Kennedy Space Center on NASA\u2019s new Space Shuttle Program right after he graduated from Florida Technological University.<\/p>\n
In a room full of old-school engineers who didn\u2019t always trust computers, Jimmy made a name for himself after he learned a computer programming language in just one day. He was writing code the first week on the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou used to have to write code on coding sheets, then the workers in the typing pool would create punch cards. Then you would take the cards, rearrange them in order and two days later your compiled code would print out error messages. Then you would start over with new coding sheets,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cI found ways to do it faster and turned code around in a day when everyone else took a week.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mission was to fuel the launch vehicle for the space shuttle without causing damage or blowing anything up. As a statistics major, Jimmy didn\u2019t have an extensive engineering or computer science background \u2013 in fact he was happy that he landed a job that seemed more interested in his secondary skills. Even though he began as a double major, the cost of creeping tuition bills forced him to sit down with an advisor to re-evaluate his specialization.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time the statistics major option was new,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cWe looked at the curriculum and realized it was divided up into three portions: one third math, one third statistics and one third computer science. It was a versatile blend of all three.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took Jimmy and his team five years to code and test the control software set using the math model simulator that he also created.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral veteran engineers doubted that it was ever going to work, that we could never write something to do the loading for the launch vehicle and the three main engines. But I kept saying that we could do it,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know any better because I was young and straight out of college. I was working with engineers who were veterans of the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury programs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jimmy and his team pulled it off. The simulator helped prepare for the first-ever launch of the space shuttle in April 1981, with the world watching on TV.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked with the team to put the astronauts into space. You could stand outside and watch the space shuttle go up. You could feel the sound waves hitting you and you\u2019d hold your breath,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen the mission would be complete and the shuttle would land with a sonic boom, and I\u2019d think, \u2018Wow. That\u2019s so cool. I helped do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
And he did for 41 years. Jimmy moved into managerial roles, becoming the youngest manager at three supervisory levels. He was the Director of Safety, Quality and Mission Assurance for 12 years during the busiest time of space shuttle processing and eventually became the Vice President of Space Division APT Research. Reflecting back on his career, Jimmy recognizes a few places he needed to adjust his passion for excellent work, including too-high standards for co-workers and employees \u2013 and his own work ethic of 60 to 70 hours a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to earn my way, but have more respect for others,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was easier to handle the technical part, but I realized everyone can do some tasks really well, but not necessarily every task as well. So you have to assign people to the right tasks to the help the mission to succeed. My guide for balancing time is to work hard, have fun and respect others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Jimmy officially retired from Kennedy Space Center in May of 2017, he isn\u2019t leaving the aerospace business entirely \u2013 he is available as a part-time consultant. Besides the software set he created that was used successfully for over 30 years, he is also proud of is his diploma \u2013 a Florida Technological University original.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was out of college a year or two when FTU became UCF,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cThe university called to see if I wanted a new diploma and I declined. But 40 years later that seems sort of ironic. Look at UCF now.\u201d<\/p>\n