Wood, Carlos Claude

Carlos C. Wood (1913-1997) was born in Turlock, California. He did his undergraduate work at the College of the Pacific (COP) and graduated in 1933 with a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Math. In 1934 he received a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and then in 1935 received his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering, also from Caltech. Wood participated in the first Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) rocket motor test on October 31, 1936. Also in 1936 Wood married Madeline Walker. The following year he was employed by Douglas Aircraft of Santa Monica, California (1937-1960) where he reached the position of Director of Advanced Engineering Planning from his starting position as a draftsman. While at Douglas he was involved with the design and development of the DC-6, DC-7, and DC-8 series airplanes, and the XB-19 bomber. In 1960 he left Douglas to work for Sikorsky Aircraft of Stratford, Connecticut, which was a division of United Aircraft Corporation. He retired in 1970 as Vice President of the Engineering Division. Wood was involved with several organizations including: National Academy of Engineering, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Helicopter Society, and American Ordinance Association. He was a consultant for the US Army Test and Evaluation Command as well as the US Air Force Division Advisory Group. Wood remained involved with COP, later University of the Pacific, even after his graduation. In 1948 he gave a discussion for Pacific's Philosophy Institute. In 1963 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was appointed to the Board of Regents in 1971 and continued in that capacity until 1991. As a regent he served on the Academic Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, and as a treasurer.