by R. David H.
A United States Government agency was
interested in how we developed the Titan missile. They reasoned that other
countries would go through similar stages as we did. They wanted a course to
which they could send their agents to examine the facilities we used and query
those who built the Titan. I was the proposal manager, and later the program
manager. With a team of several old-time employees, we developed a course to be
presented by those who had hands-on experience on that weapon system, including
tours of facilities and a multi-page loose-leaf notebook with photos and
commentary for them to take home. We provided a four-day course, classified as Secret,
at the Waterton facility. A significant intangible for Martin Marietta was the
gathering of all this history in one volume. The material we gathered was found
in scattered file cabinets, old 16mm films, stashed photos and the minds of
soon-to-retire employees. The Government caused and funded this collective
effort. Several spin-off opportunities ensued with that agency.
