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Captain James Lovell Jr. was
chosen in September 1962 for the space program following
extensive experience as a naval aviator and test pilot.
Lovell executed various commands in the Gemini Mission
Program, including serving as backup pilot for the Gemini
4 flight and pilot on the history-making Gemini 7 flight,
which saw the first rendezvous of two manned spacecraft
in 1965. He was also the backup commander for the Gemini
9 flight and in 1966 he commanded the Gemini 12
spacecraft to successfully conclude the Gemini Program.
At the close of the Gemini program, Lovell became command
module pilot and navigator for the epic six-day journey
on Apollo 8, man's maiden voyage to the moon, during
which he and his fellow crewman were the first humans to
leave the earth's gravitational influence. He then was
backup commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11
lunar landing mission. Lovell's fourth and final flight
was on the perilous Apollo 13 mission in 1970. As
spacecraft commander of the flight, Lovell and his crew
successfully modified their lunar module into an
effective lifeboat when their cryogenic oxygen system
failed. Their emergency activation and operation of the
lunar module systems conserved both electrical power and
water in sufficient supply to ensure their survival in
space and their safe return to Earth. |
In 1973, Lovell left the space program to
join the Bay-Houston Towing Company. He became president and
chief executive officer of Bay-Houston Towing in 1975 and then
furthered his corporate experience by joining Fisk Telephone
Systems, again as company president. The company was acquired by
the Centel Corporation in 1980 and Lovell became executive vice
president. Today he is president of Lovell Communications, a
business devoted to disseminating information about the Unites
States Space Program.
Capt. Lovell's education prepared him for
the change from explorer to businessman. He attended the
University of Wisconsin and graduated from the United States
Naval Academy, the University of Southern California Aviation
Safety School and the Harvard Business School's Advanced
Management Program. He has received honorary doctorates from
Blackburn University, Mary Hardin-Baylor College, Milwaukee
School of Engineering, Rockhurst College, Susquehanna University,
Washington & Jefferson College, Western Michigan University
and William Patterson College. He has garnered an impressive
share of honors and awards, including the Harmon, Collier and
Goddard Aerospace Trophies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
the French Legion of Honor, NASA Distinguished and Exceptional
Service Medals, the Navy Astronaut Wings, two Navy Distinguished
Flying Crosses, and most recently, the Congressional Space Medal
of Honor. He is also a fellow in the Society of Experimental Test
Pilots.
Capt. Lovell began hosting Executive
Forum, a Nationally syndicated weekend television program in
March 1998. As host, he interviews top CEOs and business leaders
about their ideas, work practices, and new business trends. In
1994, Lovell and Jeff Kluger wrote Lost Moon, the story of the
courageous mission of Apollo 13. In 1995, the film
version of the bestseller, Apollo 13, was released to rave
reviews. Lovell appeared in several segments of Tom Hanks' From
the Earth to the Moon, the HBO documentary miniseries in
April 1998.
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Pierre Liautaud's responsibilities
as IBM General Manager, Global Electronics Industry,are
to represent IBM's IT and e-business leadership to
thousands of companies throughout the exciting, dynamic
and fast-growing electronics industry. He has worldwide responsibility for strategy
and marketing plans aimed at helping IBM customers in
segments such as microelectronics, telecommunications,
industrial equipment, consumer electronics products,
energy and machinery equipment become more compe titive,
efficient and profitable. He does this by helping ensure
IBM's most advanced e-business solutions, including
Internet and other networking technologies, computers,
software, storage and microelectr onics devices, are
available to meet the most demanding customer
requirements.
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Before being named to his present position
in January, 1999, Pierre was responsible for coordinating,
defining and executing IBM's e-business marketing strategy and
leading the marketing effort for IBM's Internet offerings. As
vice president of marketing for IBM's Internet Division, Pierre
had responsibility for promoting IBM's solutions for messaging
and collaboration, electronic commerce and Web servers.
Two years ago, he was named executive
assistant to Louis V. Gerstner, chairman and chief executive
officer, IBM Corporation. Pierre joined IBM in 1982 after first
graduating from Ecole Polytechnique in 1980 and then from Ecole
Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications, both in Paris. He
held several sales and marketing positions in Europe, including
sales executive in IBM's Industrial Sector.
He is married and the father of four
children.