About the author of 'The Conductance Curve Design Manual' :

    Keats A. Pullen Jr. was born in Onawa, IA, in November 1916. He attended schools in Los Gatos, CA, then earned a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, in 1939. He received his Doctorate in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1946 and became a licensed professional engineer in Maryland in 1948.

    In June 1946, Dr. Pullen started working at the Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, where he remained until 1978. He transferred from BRL to the U.S. Army Material Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) in 1978, where he remained until his retirement from the Army in 1990.

    While working at BRL and AMSAA, Dr. Pullen designed and evaluated designs for a wide range of electronic systems for military use, such as DOVAP, DORAN, EMA, a drone program, satellite systems, Havename, and many other systems. During his years working at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he was also on the faculty of several universities where he taught college courses in engineering. These included the Pratt Institute of Technology in Brooklyn, New York, the University of Delaware, and Drexel University.

    Dr. Pullen was a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, President of the Aberdeen Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, a member of ADPA, AUSA, the Association of Old Crows, and Sigma Xi. In 1982, he received the Marconi Memorial Medal from the Veteran Wireless Operators Association.

    During his lifetime, Dr. Pullen published nine books, more than 25 reports, and many more papers and letters. He also was the holder of six patents. He was active in developing improved communication systems for the Special Operations Forces, Airland Battle 2000, and in developing grounding improvements for the Army, to protect the ever-increasingly more delicate systems that support the U.S. Military.

    Dr. Pullen died in December 2000, aged 84, as the result of a fall . He was survived by his wife, Dr. Phyllis K. Pullen, four sons, Peter, Paul, Keats III, Andrew, his daughter Victoria Leonard, and seven grandchildren.