The Yaquina Bay Bridge stands high above the entrance to the Newport harbor, home to one of the largest fishing fleets on the West Coast, and to marine research vessels operated by Oregon State University and NOAA’s Marine Operations Center – Pacific. Completed in 1936, the bridge is one of many designed by Conde McCullough, and is one of the most photographed bridges on the West Coast.
Melody and I have been fortunate to visit places throughout the United States and Europe. Each visit brings us a new appreciation for our rich and diverse world.
In June 2019, Melody and I were able to travel to Vienna, Austria, where I was co-hosting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation a workshop at the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV). The Workshop was for the United Nations International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment Task Force and Performance Standards Team.
John Lavrakas is a retired aerospace engineer who lives in Newport, Oregon with his wife Melody Shipherd Lavrakas. He graduated from Harvey Mudd College (1974) and Claremont Graduate University (1975) with degrees in Mathematics. He taught mathematics and physics at Indiana Vocation Technical College in South Bend, Indiana for three years, then spent forty-two years as an aerospace engineer, with forty years of it on the Global Positioning System. This work took him through all aspects of GPS, from the…
Melody and I had been looking at buying an all electric vehicle, and finally purchased one in April, but we really didn’t get to drive it for at least four weeks. We test drove a beautiful blue Audi Q4 electric vehicle April 19, and really liked it. The only problem was the one we were driving had been already sold and the only other ones on the lot were black, white, or gray. So we told them no deal. We…
This chapter identifies the companies I worked for and the projects and activities I was involved in.
This chapter lists the papers, articles, and presentations made by me over my career.