Dr. James D. Burke is a retired JPL lunar settlement and exploration expert. Dr. Burke graduated from Caltech in 1945, became a US Naval Aviator, returned to Caltech for graduate work in Aeronautics, then joined JPL in 1949. After JPL's transfer from US Army to NASA auspices, Burke participated in early US lunar programs, becoming Project Manager of Ranger, the first American effort to land operating instruments on the Moon. Burke was succeeded, after five Ranger failures, by his Caltech classmate and fellow navy flyer H.M. Schurmeier, under whose leadership Ranger, after one more in-flight failure, came through to full success. In subsequent years at JPL Burke participated in many other lunar, planetary and astrophysical projects while, in addition, being a member of the human-powered flight team that won the Kremer Prizes and joining the faculty of the International Space University. Burke's main professional interest continues to be in the exploration and settlement of the Moon.