Center for National Preparedness - Biography of Bob Regan

Biography of Bob Regan

Dr. Regan is a Visiting Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a Research Associate of the Center for National Preparedness. He specializes in geographic information systems (GIS) and database design. His professional career includes senior level positions in the federal government, major corporations, and universities. Dr. Regan has extensive background in the development of GISes as spatial decision support systems. Prior to joining the university, he worked as GIS Program Manager, establishing a GIS presence in several companies and responsible for GIS projects for state agencies, toll road authorities, and municipalities.

In the early 90's he served as Director of the GIS Center at Boston College wherein he designed and developed a geographic information system and program for the earth sciences. Before joining Boston College he was a private consultant whose principal focus was in geographic information systems, remote sensing, and the geosciences. Actively involved in proposal and report writing and in training programs, he designed and developed geographic information systems for geotechnical, agricultural, and environmental applications.

Dr. Regan also served as Director of the Earth Sciences Division and Vice President of Phoenix Corporation in McLean, Virginia. Dr. Regan basically established the Earth Sciences Division and brought it to an international position in a few years with research contracts with leading U.S. government agencies and application contracts for foreign government agencies such as the Kingdoms of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Regan was responsible for the scientific, technical, and management aspects of such projects, and was singularly involved in other projects such as a review of the use of magnetics in the Department of Defense.

He also was with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for over thirteen years. During his career with the USGS he was involved with the geological/geophysical training of NASA astronauts and also served in several staff positions such as chief of the satellite magnetometer studies project. His research in this area demonstrated the application of satellite magnetometer data to solid earth studies and provided the basis for NASA's Magsat program.

A global magnetic anomaly map produced by Dr. Regan and his co-workers provided the initial impetus for a new satellite program by NASA. Dr. Regan presented to the U.S. Government the case for a new satellite magnetometer program specifically designed to study earth resources. The resultant satellite termed Magsat was launched in October of 1979 and resulted in a highly successful mission, which verified Dr. Regan's earlier work. The results of his work in this area are now prominently displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Bob driving a prototype of the Lunar Rover.

The Apollo Astronauts.

Lunar-Like Training Terrain.