Helmut Hoelzer papers

Helmut Hoelzer was born in Bad Liebenstein, Germany, on February 27, 1912. He received his BS (1935), MS in electronics (1939), and Ph.D. in mathematics and natural sciences (1946) from the Institute of Technology in Darmstadt, Germany. From 1939-1960, Hoelzer worked with Wernher von Braun on rocket development in Germany (1939-1945) and later in the United States at Fort Bliss, Texas (1946-1950). Hoelzer was appointed director of the Computation Laboratory for the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency in 1950.

In 1960, he became director of the Computation Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The laboratory managed the use of high-speed electronic computers, automation devices, and mathematical techniques for all phases of launch and space vehicle payload research, development, fabrication, and testing. Hoelzer's contributions include original proposals for missile control, remote control and guidance systems, and an all-electronic analog computer.

Hoelzer was recognized for his contributions to electronic computer developments and guided missile and launch vehicle technology with the U.S. Army's Exceptional Civilian Service Decoration in April 1959 and the NASA Medal for Exceptional Service in 1969. After retiring from civil service in 1973, Hoelzer worked on the Skylab project in Europe until 1976. He returned to the United States and served as a computer consultant for T.V.A. before becoming the Executive Vice President of International Aerospace Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, AL.