Robert P. Graveline

Docent

Cape Canaveral Air Force Museum

We have a very special person in our midst and his name is Robert P. Graveline.  He is better known in our office as “Bob” and he is often fondly referred to by most of our staff as “Mr. G.”  He works with us on various projects and generally assists with office administration.  However, since it is rare that a law firm would have a “rocket man” on its staff, we felt that a biography on our website was warranted so our visitors to our site may get to know this very interesting gentleman whose name is absolutely “stellar” as you will realize later in this text. 

After graduating from Idaho State University with a B.S. degree in math/physics, Bob Graveline sought work in the aerospace industry in California.  His first assignment was that of an engineer on the “SNARK” cruise missile produced by Northrop Aircraft and designed to fly 6,000 miles with the ability to potentially drop its atomic warhead on a specifically designated target with a one-quarter mile accuracy level and without a pilot.  The SNARK program brought Bob to Cape Canaveral in 1952 where, with a few Cape Canaveral contract interruptions, he worked until retirement in 1993.

Some other noteworthy programs with which Bob Graveline was involved included a program originated by Lockheed Aircraft, specifically its famous “AGENA” rocket which, in combination with the Atlas Rocket, was America’s “work horse” in the 1960s, putting many satellites in orbit and generating excursions to Mars, Venus and the moon.  To date, there is a payload on the moon with a plaque engraved with the names of some of the people who worked that program (the Ranger Program).  Bob Graveline’s name is on that plaque as a testament to his commitment to the aerospace program.  Hence, our earlier reference to a “stellar” name! 

With regard to America’s space shuttle program, Bob Graveline was instrumental in its management and had the major responsibility of insuring the integrity of the software used in the firing rooms which served to actually launch the shuttle.

During Bob’s career, he assisted in reducing the data for Dr. Wernher Von Braun on his Redstone Rocket which launched America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, ,in January 1958. 

Presently, Bob Graveline is a volunteer at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Space & Missile Museumwhere he delights visitors as a docent and provides lectures on the history of Cape Canaveral and its various missile successes as well as its disasters.  Bob Graveline is no less than a “walking history book” when it comes to aerospace development in the United States of America.  His passion for the subject has not waned over the years and he remains an avid proponent of space technology, development and discovery.

As for Mr. G’s position in our firm – well, he is certainly a “star.”