Willis Meeks, a pioneer in the aerospace industry and the first African-American flight project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), passed away on March 21, 2023, at 85. Meeks' legacy of promoting social justice and mentoring has impacted the aerospace industry and his community.
Born in Harlan, Kentucky, in 1938, Meeks began working young to support his family. Upon graduating high school, he joined the Air Force and trained as an Electronic Technician and Avionic Specialist. He was involved in developing and testing the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. However, he needed a college degree to secure a management position. Meeks was determined to overcome this obstacle and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master's degree from Cal State Los Angeles. He also studied international business at Stanford University. Meeks worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1966-1996. He played a crucial role in bringing diversity to the workplace and supporting the recruitment of underrepresented minorities to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). At JPL, Meeks served as Network Controller for NASA's Deep Space Tracking Network, which supported the Voyager, Magellan, and Galileo missions. He later became Mission Operations Project Engineer for planetary space missions, including the Mars Observer and Mars Pathfinder. In 1990, Meeks led the Ulysses Solar Exploration Project, becoming JPL's first black flight project manager. He continued to work on other missions, including the Mars Observer and Mars Pathfinder, until his retirement in 1996. Throughout his career, Meeks was dedicated to social justice and mentorship. He developed programs to recruit underrepresented minorities to JPL and mentored at-risk youth. He also initiated Adopt-A-School programs and worked with management to implement an equity assessment review process. Meeks mentored elementary, middle, and high school students to encourage careers in science and math. After retiring from JPL in 1996, Meeks continued to apply his skills as an executive leader in the industry until 2003. He focused on family, friendships, and church work. In 1991, he married Magdalene 'Mag' Powell, and they celebrated 31 years together. Meeks also served as Co-Director of Christian Education at Second Baptist Church (SBC) in Monrovia. He expanded the church's remote access during the pandemic, increasing Sunday School attendance nationally and internationally. Willis Meeks will always stand out as a trailblazer in the aerospace industry and a devoted family man. His contributions to JPL and his work in enhancing remote access for Second Baptist Church in Monrovia will continue to inspire future generations. |
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