Prickett served as a bomber pilot for the United States Air Force during World War II . After studying nuclear physics at Ohio State University , he worked at the Pentagon on research and development of nuclear power . Prickett was then assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base where he became the research director for the Air Force Special Weapons Center , particularly in relation to the use of nuclear power . Prickett was a program director for tests of the hydrogen bombs , such as Castle Bravo . According to Prickett , he was present for more than 100 atmospheric tests of nuclear bombs in Nevada and the South Pacific between 1951 and 1963 , and stated he received the maximum dosage of two Rads radiation every series . Pickett was the USAF Liaison officer for the Orion Project nuclear powered spacecraft . Pickett retired from the military in 1967
Castle Bravo
Castle Bravo
Don Prickett