Dr Don Woods
WOODS, Don, OBE DPhil(Oxon) FIEAust BE BSc FTS CEng FRAes (1911-1981)
In 1951, Don Woods was appointed Superintendent of the High Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory at the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) having moved to Adelaide from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Melbourne. In 1965, he was appointed Director of WRE (later the Defence Science and Technology Organisation) based in Salisbury and Woomera, South Australia. As Director, Woods was responsible for developing theoretical and experimental research programs in high-speed aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, and weapon systems development and evaluation. Highlights included the Ikara anti-submarine weapon system and WRESAT, Australia becoming the third nation to put a satellite into earth orbit with the successful 1967 Woomera launch of an experimental satellite.
Woods was a member of the Council of The Institution of Engineers Australia for 18 years, was President of the South Australia Division in 1961 and was National President in 1972-3. He took a keen interest in technical education, chaired the Salisbury High School from 1959-63, was president of the Council of the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT) from 1979 to 1981, and was a member of the South Australian Government’s Water Resources Appeal Tribunal. He was a Foundation Fellow in 1976 of the Academy of Technological Sciences.
In 1971, Don Woods was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 1978 he was the inaugural winner of The Institution of Engineers Australia’s AGM Michell Medal in recognition of his eminence and sustained leadership in mechanical engineering. In 1979, he was presented with the Institution’s most prestigious award, the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal for notable contributions to the engineering profession in Australia.
Dr Woods was added to the Engineers Australia South Australian Hall of Fame in 2012.
