Darel Preble

Darel Preble is a systems analyst, physicist and, since 1997, chair of the Space Solar Power Workshop. This volunteer international workshop is the central activity of the Space Solar Power Institute, a 501(c)3 corporation, which was incorporated in 1997. The Space Solar Power Association, a 501(c)4 corporation, was incorporated in 2006 by its chair Mark Wallach. In 1994, 1995 and 1996, while employed as Southern Company’s nuclear security analyst, he wrote a series of three annual white papers entitled “Solar Power Satellites (SPS) The Technological Imperative?” These were circulated within the electric power industry and aerospace community. They were not done at Southern Company request or expense. Since December, 1984 he had been Sr. Systems Analyst for INCORE, a nuclear class 1 (safety related) IBM mainframe computer code which managed the nuclear burn at Southern Company’s PWR nuclear reactors. This system of Fortran programs was/are audited annually for adherence to INPO (Institute of Nuclear Power Operations), Southern Company, FERC and other nuclear standards making bodies, both internal and external. During this time he isolated and documented multiple errors in IBM’s mainframe Fortran compilers, which he worked with IBM to rectify. Prior to his arrival nuclear audit “findings” were a chronic problem area. During his tenure nuclear audit findings were eliminated. Improved V&V nuclear software acceptance standards by a factor of ten. He created, taught and hired teachers for classes in new technology systems including neural networks and genetic algorithms; initiated and led numerous advanced technology development projects including an advanced weather forecasting evaluation for bulk power marketing; He represented Southern Company at numerous power industry conference and computer forums including EPRI, EEI, and INFORUM. Mr. Preble’s first published testimony before the Department of Energy for the “Third Energy Plan”, 1980, “Solar Power Satellites - Energy for the Future” was read into the Congressional Record for June 22, 1981. In 1983 and 1984, he organized and moderated Space Week Symposiums through Georgia State University’s Continuing Education department. Doing this enabled him to meet Dr. Peter Glaser, who patented the SSP concept and other notable lecturers, including Dr. Gerard O’Neill, founder of the Space Studies Institute, who he invited to these programs. He is a member of the Board of Directors, National Space Society; member National Defense Industries Association Energy Security Committee, IEEE, Sigma Xi, SSI and Peachtree Presbyterian Church. Enjoys jogging, spelunking, scuba diving and surfing without a board to stand on. He is married, in good health and holds the following degrees: M.S., Physics, Georgia State University, Thesis: “Shell Model Calculation of the Splitting between the T=0 and T=1 6- States of Silicon 28 (Nuclear modeling) M.A., Administration (Systems Management), George Washington Univ. Thesis: Research & Development forecasting; B.A., Physics, Vanderbilt University.