James O. Pilcher II

JAMES (JIM) O. PILCHER II was a seasoned ballistician and mechanical engineer, with more than 50 years of experience analyzing, testing, and developing a wide range of combat weapon systems and methodologies. His career began in 1959, when he joined the U.S. Army Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. During his nearly 30 years at BRL, he held multiple bench-level and leadership positions, including serving as a research engineer in the field of projectile/gun dynamics modeling and analysis, as well as Team Leader of the Electro-Mechanics Team, the Tank Gun Dynamics Team, and the Experimental Mechanics Team.

From 1989 until 1999, Jim served as President of Pilcher & Associates, where he developed a simulation of the operational response of the IRS computer system to projected workloads; consulted on ballistic range upgrades at Warren Air Force Base, WY; and provided design engineering for development of a production model computer enclosure.

Jim joined SURVICE Engineering in the spring of 1999 to serve as a senior analyst in the Aberdeen Area Operation’s Evaluation and Analysis Group. His many accomplishments during his 16 years with the company included developing an underbody mine blast analysis computer tool for the Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected program; analyzing energy safety limits for a blast test facility; analyzing the performance of the Joint Biological Standoff Detection System; and providing live-fire test and evaluation, ballistic survivability, nonballistic survivability, and/or technical management planning and evaluation support for countless combat systems and programs. In addition, he was the author of numerous technical reports and publications, as well as the recipient of numerous patents and awards.