Hill Aerospace Museum announces January ‘Plane Talk’ speakers

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Each week, the Hill Aerospace Museum hosts a ‘Plane Talk’ event featuring lecturers who speak on the heritage of Hill Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force, other military branches, and many other subjects related aerospace and the defense industry.

Plane Talk is held at 1 p.m. Saturdays in the museum’s auditorium. Admission is free. The speaker line up for January includes:

Jan. 12

Kevin Ireland

Ireland is a successful, award winning, and diverse executive with an abundance of experience leading organizations for multi-million dollar companies across diverse industries for more than 30 years. His extensive firsthand knowledge of raising large charitable contributions for community programs and projects has continued over a 25-year period, including the Hill AFB’s Warriors Over the Wasatch Air and Space Show.

Ireland continues to be involved with many local community boards and support groups for the local military in Utah. He is the recipient of several community awards, including the Hill AFB Wingman Award for his on-going support to the base and community. Ireland is a member of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah Board of Directors at the Hill Aerospace Museum.

Jan. 19

Erik Gross

Gross is the senior program manager on the GEM 63 production program. The GEM 63 program is currently developing and producing strap-on rocket motors for United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and Vulcan launch vehicles as well as Northrop Grumman’s OmegA launch vehicle.

Gross has 20 years of experience in the propulsion and space industry. He started his career in engineering at Thiokol Corporation analyzing the loads and vibrations of the space shuttle reusable solid rocket motors. He has held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility and leadership in engineering, business development, operations and program management.

A native of Florida, Gross holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and a master’s degree in business administration from Utah State University.

Jan. 26

Don Sellers

Sellers served in the Marine Corps from 1964-1968 and retired at the rank of E-5.He will discuss the battle of Cam Lo-Tet Offensive that took place in 1968. During “The Miracle of Cam Lo,” Sellers and his platoon of 44 Marines held and defeated 900 NVA forces of the 320th NVA Regiment for more than 6 hours.

For more information about Plane Talk, call 801-825-5936.