COMMUNICATION

KITAW EJIGU

FULL NAMEDOCTOR ENGINEER SCINTIST KITAW EJIGU

BIOGRAPHY OF KITAW EJIGU

Born February 25, 1948Bonga, Kaffa, Ethiopia

Died January 13, 2006United States

Nationality Ethiopian and American

Occupationscientist (Chief of Spacecraft and Satellite Systems engineer)

Early life

Kitaw was born in bonga, kaffa, Ethiopia. He attended his high school study at the 27th high school in jimma. After completing his highschool kitaw joined Bahir dar polytechnic institute, and in 1966, graduated as the top student in his class. He received his diploma in mechanical engineering with specialization in agricultural technology. After graduation, kitaw worked at the Ethiopian automotive services and sales company (EASSCO) as chief technical advisor and assistant manager for two years.In 1972, he won a scholarship from the Japanese overseas technical association and traveled to japan. There, kitaw studied automotive engineering at Hiroshima university as well as language and economics at Osaka university. He later moved to the united states, where he began intensive research and training and earned an MBA in 1979. He then completed his doctorate in space vehicle systems engineering from Northrop university in California.

Bonga(kaffa)27th high school in jimma.

HIS JOURNEY KITAW

Career

Upon completion of his studies and researches in the late 1970s, he started working for NASA as a system engineer and space research scientist. He collaborated with other scientists on the space shuttle and other rocketry projects. Kitaw Ejigu was one of Ethiopia's first aerospace scientists. Kitaw also worked for Rockwell international and Boeing.

Apart from his work as an aerospace scientist, he was also known for his efforts to bring about political change in Ethiopia. He publicly denounced the regime in Ethiopia and its actions and policies. Even though he was ambitious about using his knowledge, experience and high-status to help his homeland Ethiopia, he repeatedly said he was not made welcome by the regime. In 2002, he founded a political party, the Ethiopian national united front, to help overthrow Meles Zenawi's regime.

- He was the will and energy behind his business TransTech International, a corporation with a vision to modernize the developing world. Kitaw is survived by his wife Stella, his children's Sarah Abigail, Benyam and Yared

CONT…..

Worked at NASA Chief of

Spacecraft and Satellite Systems engineer on the space shuttle and other rocketry projects

Rockwell International and Boeing as a scientist and engineer

Kitaw worked at the Ethiopian Automotive Services and Sales Company (EASSCO) as chief technical advisor and assistant manager for two years before he got the scholarship.

Cont.… He worked for different

aerospace companies, such as Garret Air Research and Advanced Bonding Technology Labs.

In 1977 he was hired by the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) of California Institute of Technology (a NASA research center) in Pasadena, California and achieved recognition for becoming Chief Spacecraft Systems Design Engineer.

In those positions he was responsible for the definition, design, development, integration, test and launching of advanced planetary mission spacecraft's and earth-orbiting satellite systems.

HIS INVENTIONS In 1978, Kitaw invented two

aerospace mechanisms for JPL/NASA, patented under NASA's new technologies programs while working with other NASA scientists and the Apollo astronaut Buz Aldrin, second man to walk on the Moon.

He oversaw the development of advanced technologies for Kinetic Energy Weapons Systems in support of the SDI and related programs (ASAT, GBI, E2I, TMD).

Kitaw was also a program manager for a Lunar/Mars Micro-Rover research and development effort in support of NASA's future exploration missions.

Kitaw Ejigu Kitaw then turned his attention to Africa and his beloved

Ethiopia hoping to introduce and advance technology based development. He and colleagues established global technologies service systems TransTech international, a privately owned satellite and related systems engineering company and kitaw served as president/CEO until he passed away.

Because of his deep concern and love for his motherland Ethiopia and her people, he dedicated most of his latter years serving as a visionary leader of this major opposition party -THE ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL UNITED FRONT.

FINALLY KITAW EJIGU DIED AT THE AGE OF 58 ON 13 JANUARY, 2006 IN THE UNITED STATES.

“THE ONE WHO SHOWS ETHIOPIANS ARE STILL NECESSARY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!”

THANK YOU

ONES GOOD NAME REMAINS ABOVE THE GRAVE