The History of the System Safety Society In the early 1960s, a small but dedicated group of managers, scientists, and engineers became personally involved in the initial implementation of system safety engineering in some of the major aerospace programs. They began to meet to share their common interests and visions for the potential of the system safety process in accident reduction. It soon became apparent to them that existing professional organizations and societies did not provide a sufficiently receptive and stimulating environment in which the long-range objectives envisioned for the system safety concept could flourish. Therefore, in 1962, the System Safety Society was organized and chartered in California through the dedicated efforts of Mr. Roger Lockwood and the founding pioneers. As the Society enjoyed a steady growth in numbers, scope and influence, it was incorporated as a non-profit professional organization (IRS Classification 501(c)(6)). The membership now extends to more than 24 different countries. For more information on the history of the System Safety Society: The Founding of the System Safety Society System Safety Society Incorporation Past System Safety Society Presidents Past System Safety Society Officers Past System Safety Society Directors The System Safety Society Logo The Journal of System Safety The Founding of the System Safety Society The System Safety Society was founded by Roger Lockwood (USC) on Dec. 1, 1963, as a non-profit organization named the Aerospace System Safety Society. It was eventually chartered in the state of California on Feb. 11, 1964. The main supporters of this founding effort were C.O. Miller (USC) and Jerry Lederer (Flight Safety Foundation). The first chapter to form was the Northwest Chapter in Seattle, Washington in 1964  In 1967, the name of the society was changed to the System Safety Society by a ballot vote of all the members. Company memberships were instituted in 1972 under the guidance of Ed Fosler. SSS Incorporation On October 24, 1973, the System Safety Society was incorporated as a non-profit professional organization in the District of Columbia. The initial registered agent was Gordon F. MacDougal. The registered office was 1200 18th St. NW. Signers of the articles of incorporation were: Mr. Emerson Harris (McLean, VA) Mr. E.T. Driver (Reston, VA) Mr. C.O. Miller (McLean, VA) The original Board of Directors were: Mr. E T. Driver Mr. Donald "Red" Layton Mr. C.O. Miller Mr. Loran W. Sapp Mr. D.A. Smith Past System Safety Society Presidents Year Name Affiliation Chapter 1963-1964 Roger Lockwood USC So. Calif. 1964-1965 George Haviland USAF (Major) So. Calif. 1965-1966 Richard Kohlheyer Douglas Missile & Space So. Calif 1966-1967 Charles O. Miller USC So. Calif. 1967-1968 Niel Classon Boeing Northwest (Seattle) ## 1968- * B.P.Hilgeson NASA Wash. D.C. 1968-1970 Elwood Driver DOT Wash. D.C. 1970-1971 Jack Parrish Consultant Wash. D.C. 1971-1972 Roy Harris TRW So. Calif. 1972-1973 Edward Fosler Hughes Aircraft So. Calif. 1973-1975 # Emerson Harris NTSB Wash. D.C. 1975-1977 Rex Gordon Ford Aerospace So. Calif. 1977-1979 George Peters Attorney So. Calif. 1979- ** William Prescott Northrop So. Calif. 1979-1981 Brian Moriarity DeLeuw Cather Wash. D.C. 1981-1983 James Chappee NASA (MSC) Texas  1983-1985 George Mumma Martin Marietta Denver  1985-1987 Kenneth Pethe Martin Marietta Denver  1987-1989 Erskine Harton Consulatant Wash. D.C. 1989-1991 Harris Yeager USAF Wash. D.C. 1991-1993 Charles Hoes Hoes Engineering Davis, CA  1993-1995 Michael Brown U.S. Navy (NSWC) Wash. D.C. 1995-1997 Paul Kinzey U.S. Navy (NSC) Wash. D.C. 1997-1999 Perry D’Antonio Sandia National Labs New Mexico 1999-2001 Paige Ripani Applied Ordnance Technology Wash D.C. 2001-2003 Clif Ericson Applied Ordnance Technology Wash D.C. 2003-2005 Paul Kryska Novellus Systems San Jose, CA 2005-present Larry Jones Dynetics, Inc. Huntsville, AL *      When elected president, Mr. Hilgeson was Director of Safety for NASA. He died prior to assuming office, and vice president Elwood "Woody" Driver assumed his office. **   Vice president Bill Wescott assumed the office of president upon the resignation of George Peters. #      A constitutional change in 1973 provided for a two-year term for elected Society officers. ##           The Northwest Chapter was originally started in 1964 in Seattle, but became inactive in the 1980s. System Safety Society Officers Year President Exec VP Treasurer Secretary 1963-1964 Roger Lockwood       1964-1965 George Haviland       1965-1966 Richard Kohlheyer       1966-1967 Charles O. Miller       1967-1968 Niel Classon   Ed von Wolfersdorff Norbert Ramirez 1968- * B.P.Hilgeson       1968-1970 Elwood Driver       1970-1971 Jack Parrish       1971-1972 Roy Harris       1972-1973 Edward Fosler       1973-1975 # Emerson Harris Benedict Leotta Timothy G. Kenney Erskine E. Harton Jr. 1975-1977 Rex Gordon Edward A. Fosler William W. Westcott Nurbert E. Schmidt 1977-1979 George A. Peters William W. Westcott Edward Beck Barbara Peters 1979- ** William Prescott       1979-1981 Brian Moriarity Carl C. Clark Jack Dixon Jr. James Gibble 1981-1983 James H. Chappee John P. Rankin Emil J. Amberboy Clifton Gremillion 1983-1985 George B. Mumma Travis Pethe Dean Jones Patty Baldwin 1985-1987 Travis (Ken) Pethe Ervin S. Dean Jr. Joyce McDivott Richard. J. Tower 1987-1989 Erskine Harton Joseph Pizzo Richard Clarke Peter Rutledge 1989-1991 Harris Yeager Richard Clarke Vito Longo Ludwig Benner 1991-1993 Charles Hoes Dev Raheja Ira Rimson Paul Kinzey 1993-1995 Michael Brown Harris Yeager Joseph Pizzo Gary Staffo 1995-1997 Paul Kinzey Michael Alloco Barry Richard Karen Fisher 1997-1999 Perry D’Antonio Paige Ripani Paul Kriska Mark Anderson 1999-2001 Paige Ripani Clifton A. Ericson II Jon Derickson Niles Welch 2001-2003 Clifton A. Ericson II Niles Welch William Pottratz Saralyn Dwyer 2003-2005 Paul Kryska Larry Jones Chris Olson Melissa Emery 2005-2007 Larry Jones Melissa Emery Mary Ellen Caro John Livingston 2007-2009 Jim Wiggins Mary Ellen Caro William Pottratz Jeff Speer System Safety Society Directors Year Director Director Director 1963-1964       1964-1968 Gordon Willard