Born June 4, 1935, in Colorado City, Texas, Charles Haines left his small town and discovered a life long passion with the Corps at Texas A&M University. Upon graduating from Texas A&M with a bachelors in aeronautical engineering in 1957, he became an officer in the United States Air Force. He was a Flight Test Engineer on the B-58 “Hustler” bomber, setting altitude records and garnering personal recognition from the 35th President of The United States of America, John F. Kennedy.
Charles retired from the USAF at the rank of Captain and began his career with NASA. While working with the space program he enjoyed many years of aeronautical engineering success. These years included many crucial roles in the space program. Charles held the position of Project Manager for The Lunar Landing Training Vehicle Program (1969-1973) during the Apollo era which successfully placed men on the moon. He also worked as Chief of Operational Planning for the Space Shuttle Program from 1978 to 1982. These highlights merely scratch the surface of what Charles accomplished professionally, but for those who knew him well, they realize that great historical moments do not define him in the way his career as a sea vessel captain did.