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Jim Loundagin has spent 35 years at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), contributing to missile development and testing. He started with the Fiber Optic Guided Skipper program in 1989, focusing on missile performance under launch conditions.

Loundagin later led the Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket project and the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile program, delivering the first 10 missiles to the U.S. Navy. His career highlights the importance of learning from failures and mentoring engineers, ensuring the transfer of hard-won knowledge. Loundagin remains rooted in Ridgecrest, California, where he continues to influence a new generation of engineers.