Walter B. LaBerge was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 29 March 1924; received a B.S. degree in naval science from the University of Notre Dame in 1944; served as an officer in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater and was commander of the U.S. Navy Minesweeper YMS 165, 1943-1947; received a B.S. degree in physics, 1947, and then a Ph.D. degree in physics, 1950, from the University of Notre Dame; was Program Engineer for the Sidewinder missile program at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, California, 1950-1955; Program Manager for Sidewinder missile program, 1955-1957; Director of Engineering at Western Development Laboratories, Philco-Ford Corporation, Palo Alto, California, 1957-1963; was Director of the Philco-Ford Corporation's Houston operation, 1963-1965; was division vice president, then vice president for Electronics Group, at Western Development Laboratories, 1966-1971; deputy technical director and then director of the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California, 1971-1973; was Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Research and Development), 1973-1976; served as Assistant Secretary General (Defense Support), NATO, 1976-July 1977; was Under Secretary of the Army, 27 July 1977-28 February 1980; Principal Deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering), 15 September 1979-1981; was corporate vice president, Lockheed Missile and Space Company, Sunnyvale, California, 1981-1985; vice president, Lockheed Corporation, Calabasas, California, 1985-1989; was a member of the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and also chairman of the Army Science Board; is adjunct professor, Aerospace and Mechanics Department, University of Texas and also visiting professor, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.