Dr. Joseph W. Hamaker retired as Director of the Cost Analysis Division of NASA Headquarters in September 2006. After retirement from the Government, he joined SAIC as a Senior Cost Analyst in Washington DC, where he performs cost and schedule estimating, risk/uncertainty analysis and related economic assessments, cost estimating tool development and related work for new and ongoing space projects. In his NASA HQ position, Dr. Hamaker led the development of independent cost estimates for NASA programs, as well as the establishment of strategic management and policy for the overall NASA cost estimating process. Prior to assuming the lead cost position at NASA HQ in September 2002, he spent 29 years at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville AL, the last 16 as Manager of the Engineering Cost Office there. Dr. Hamaker earned his BS degree in Industrial Engineering from Tennessee Technological University and three degrees from the University of Alabama in Huntsville: a BA in economics, an MS in Engineering Management, and a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is a SCEA Certified Cost Analyst and an ISPA Certified Parametric Practitioner.