Defying the odds became a way of life for Ed Eberle, a man who transformed a high school diploma into a career as a space engineer, ultimately working on historic missions. From his early days as an ambitious technician to his significant role in the space shuttle program, Ed’s journey shows that determination—not just degrees—can reach the stars.
Ed grew up and spent his working years in California. Right after high school, he began his career as a technician and soon set his sights on advancement. “I found out that management was the only way to make money. I beat the odds by not having a degree – I made engineer without having a degree,” he said. Ed’s strategy was simple but effective: he dressed for success in suits and ties and gathered experience. “I made myself prestigious by my dress and my attitude,” he explained. His efforts soon led him into electronics for surveillance.
Ed’s next move was to Lockheed Martin, working on the Electra aircraft, before going to work for Litton Industries, an American defense contractor, for 18 years. This position took him around the United States and even to Iran, where he spent nine memorable days. “It was such an interesting place,” he recalled. “The food was good. The cheese was made with goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk.”
After that, he joined Waugh Controls, where he calculated chemical mixtures for oil refineries. Eventually, a neighbor recommended him to Rocketdyne. “They went out of their way to change the rules to hire me,” Ed said. He started on the shop floor and then moved on to disassembling and reassembling spacecraft engines, supervising a team of six. The space age was thrilling—and demanding.
But it also brought moments of deep sorrow. Ed was there when the space shuttle Challenger tragically exploded. Although he hadn’t worked on the part that failed, he vividly remembers the aftermath. “I had to take the engines apart when we took them out of the ocean,” he shared. “The engines were still running. It was pretty devastating.” Other missions brought more successful outcomes; Ed contributed to the shuttle Discovery’s record-breaking service, which spanned 27 years and 39 flights.
Ed retired to Fort Loudon Lake in East Tennessee with his wife Marion. There, he lived in a large lakefront home. Unfortunately, he was later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
As the disease progressed, Ed lost strength and now requires a walker to get around. In August 2024, he moved to Morning Pointe of Athens, Tennessee, to be closer to his stepdaughter, where he now receives assisted living care. “I’m trying to beat the Parkinson’s by doing exercises and physical therapy,” he said. Morning Pointe offers physical, occupational, and speech therapies on-site through their therapy partners.
Despite the challenges, Ed enjoys staying active with walking and games, along with regular visits from family and friends. In addition to his two stepdaughters, he has two sons.
“The people are so nice here,” Ed said. “They are keeping up with everything I need. You meet people who are interesting, and you can get involved in whatever you want to.”
Reflecting on his life’s journey from technician to space engineer, Ed shared, “I’m most proud of the fact that I took a high school education and turned it into something I could be proud of.”
