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Howard DeCastro

Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager

Howard DeCastro is Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager of United Space Alliance, LLC. Appointed to this position in August 1997, he is responsible for overall program management of USA’s Space Shuttle Program.

He previously served as Vice President and Deputy Program Manager of USA, a position he had held since August 1996.

DeCastro has more than 40 years of management experience. He served as president of Northwest Aerospace Training Corporation (NATCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NWA Inc. from 1991 through 1996. NATCO provided the simulators used to train Northwest Airlines pilots and also sold simulator time, pilot training and other airline-related services to more than 100 airlines worldwide.

From 1987 to 1991, DeCastro was the president of Allen Corporation of America and Link Training Services, companies that develop pilot training and operated simulators for the United States military. He served as manager, director and vice president of Allen Corporation from 1980 through 1987. In these capacities, he oversaw the development of aviation training programs and managed operations. As vice president, he directed contracts and finance for government programs, led the company’s marketing efforts, and helped plan and effect the sale of the company to Singer Corporation.

DeCastro enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1958 and served until 1980, rising from private to lieutenant colonel. He earned his commission and aviator wings in 1961 and served as a Marine Corps officer and Naval aviator in a variety of jobs including four command tours. He flew the F4B Phantom in Vietnam from October 1967 through October 1968, flying 380 combat missions.

DeCastro helped establish and was the first commanding officer of the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-One (MAWTS-1), the Marine Corps’ graduate level school for the integration of aviation tactics. Later, while with Allen Corporation, he assisted the Navy in the establishment of its graduate level school for the integration of aviation tactics, the Navy Strike Warfare Center.

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