Ron Dittemore

2025-09-29T03:28:39Z

2605:A601:A0A8:1F00:D187:5529:EDDE:8D4A: Correct dead reference url.

{{Short description|American NASA official (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Ron Dittemore and Michael Kostelnik - GPN-2003-00087.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Ronald D. Dittemore (right)]]

'''Ron D. Dittemore''' (born April 13, 1952 [[Cooperstown, New York]]) is a former [[Space Shuttle program]] manager for [[NASA]]. He was the shuttle program manager during the timeframe of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]. He later served as President of ATK Launch Systems Group. He is currently retired.

== Education ==
Ron Dittemore graduated from [[Medical Lake High School]] in [[Medical Lake, Washington]] in 1970. He received a bachelor's degree in [[aeronautical engineer|aeronautical]] and [[astronautical engineering]] from the [[University of Washington]] in 1974, and a master's degree in the same subjects one year later.<ref name=APBio>{{cite news |author= |title=Ron Dittemore Biographical Information |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[Midland Daily News]] |date=February 1, 2003 |url=https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Ron-Dittemore-Biographical-Information-7715140.php |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325163509/https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Ron-Dittemore-Biographical-Information-7715140.php |archive-date=2023-03-25 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
Before joining [[NASA]] at [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|Johnson Space Center (JSC)]] in 1977, Dittemore worked as a [[Jet engine|turboprop/turbofan engine]] development engineer in Arizona. While at [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|JSC]], Dittemore held several positions, including [[Flight controller|flight director]] on 11 [[Space Shuttle]] missions,<ref>{{cite news|title=Shuttle chief put in the spotlight|date=February 4, 2003|url=https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2003/02/05/shuttle-chief-put-in-spotlight/50735266007/|publisher=The Stockton Record|access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref> deputy assistant director of the [[Space station|Space Station]] Program, and manager of Space Shuttle Program Integration. He assumed the position of manager of the Space Shuttle Program in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project - Edited Oral History Transcript - Ronald D. Dittemore|author=Rebecca Wright |url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/DittemoreRD/DittemoreRD_8-24-07.htm|date= August 24, 2007|publisher=NASA|access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref>

Dittemore was the Shuttle Program Manager for [[NASA]] at the time of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disastrous loss]] of Space Shuttle ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' in February 2003. On February 5, 2003, Dittemore incorrectly asserted that foam debris from the shuttle's external tank that struck the left wing during the launch could not have caused the reentry disintegration of the shuttle. Dittemore announced his resignation from [[NASA]] in April 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=NASA Shuttle Manager to Resign As Planned|author=Kirsten Hays
|date=April 19, 2003|url=https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/NASA-Shuttle-Manager-to-Resign-As-Planned-7137533.php
|publisher=Midland Daily News|access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030809172333/https://www.nasa.gov/news/special/dittemore.html|archive-date=August 9, 2003|url-status=dead|url=http://www.nasa.gov/news/special/dittemore.html|title=Letter from Ron Dittemore, Space Shuttle Program Manager|publisher=[[NASA]]|access-date=2013-01-28}}</ref>

After leaving NASA, Dittemore became president of [[Thiokol|ATK Thiokol Propulsion]], renamed ATK Launch Systems Group in May 2006, a division of [[Alliant Techsystems]] (ATK);<ref>{{cite news |title=Rocket-engine maker renamed as ATK Launch Systems Group |first=Steven |last=Oberbeck |work=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |date=May 13, 2006 |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/business/ci_3818008 |access-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325163512/https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/business/ci_3818008 |archive-date=2023-03-25 |url-status=live}}</ref> Thiokol and NASA had been found responsible, in the 1986 report of the [[Rogers Commission Report]], for that year's [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster]], which also resulted in the death of seven astronauts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Highlights of the Rogers Commission report |agency=[[Reuters]] |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=1986-06-10 |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0610/a1rog.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210225357/https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/0610/a1rog.html |archive-date=2023-12-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2024}}, the then 72-year-old Dittemore is retired.

== Personal ==
Ron Dittemore is married to Shirley Ann Seibolts. They have two children.<ref name=APBio/> Dittemore is a member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mormons in Space: 4 Fascinating Firsts |first=Danielle B. |last=Wagner |date=February 25, 2018 |url=https://www.ldsliving.com/mormons-in-space-4-fascinating-firsts/s/87810 |magazine=[[LDS Living]] |access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category|Ron Dittemore}}
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dittemore, Ron}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from New York (state)]]
[[Category:NASA flight controllers|Dittemore, Ron]]
[[Category:University of Washington College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:People from Cooperstown, New York]]
[[Category:People from Medical Lake, Washington]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Washington (state)]]

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Ron Dittemore