Alan M. Lovelace

Alan Mathieson Lovelace (September 4, 1929 – April 18, 2018) was the deputy administrator of NASA from July 2, 1976, to July 10, 1981.

Lovelace was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1951, received a Master of Science in organic chemistry in 1952 and became a Doctor of Philosophy in 1954, also in organic chemistry.

Lovelace served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1956. Thereafter, he began work as a government scientist at the Air Force Materials Laboratory (AFML), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. There he initially did work in the field of fluorine and polymer chemistry. These efforts on fluorocarbon and inorganic polymers extended the useful temperature range over which polymers could be used.

In this role, he worked to realize the potential of very high strength, very light weight fibers being consolidated in a new class of composites. In 1967, he was named director of the Air Force Materials Laboratory, and in October 1972, he was named director of science and technology for the Air Force Systems Command at its Headquarters, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. In this role, he provided technical guidance and management policy to eleven Air Force Systems Command Laboratories, five Liaison Officers, and the Command's European Office of Aerospace Research.

He retired from NASA to accept a position as Corporate Vice President – Science and Engineering with the General Dynamics Corporation at St. Louis, Missouri. By 1985 he had become Corporate Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics' Space System Division.