College of Science and Technology

2008 Distinguished Alumnus: Robert W. Malley

Robert Malley is a native of Bogalusa whose long career in the space industry included
involvement with both the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft programs. For Apollo flights,
including the historic Apollo 13 mission, Malley led the mission evaluation team.
Known as the “Boys in the Backroom,” the team’s engineers and support personnel were
responsible for solving problem or anomalies occurring during flights and successfully
rescued the Apollo 13 flight from disaster.   Prior to joining NASA, he worked at
the Sandia Scientific Lab where he was responsible for data processing and live nuclear
test data. Malley graduated from Southeastern in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in
mathematics and minor in physics. While at Southeastern, he was a member of marching
band, cheerleading squad and Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.