James has an Associates Degree in machine shop (1984)from Mississippi Delta Junior College in Moorhead, MS. and over 18 Years of Experience in advanced Fabrication Skills. This includes the Machining of precision parts, Progressive Tool & Die / mold work, Heat treating of a variety tool steels, Mig/Tig /Stick Welding, Research & Development of Complex components/systems, Basic Electrical Knowledge.

He was employed in several positions from 1985 to 1988, at AC Machine Works, in Greenville, MS. as a production Machinist/ fabricator of part for Clever Broocks Industrial Water Boilers. From 1988 to 1994, at L & L Tool & Die Co. in Greenville, Ms. he worked as a Tool & Die /Mold Maker. This included manufacture and assembly all of the needed parts to make or repair Progressive Still Stamping Dies (up to 7 progression’s) and ubber Injection Molds. From 1994 to 1997, he worked at Charlie’s Machine Repair in Greenville, Ms. as Shop Foreman where he managed the progress of all jobs, as well as employees and training. He also performed job site repair of Die Presses, roll forms, Rivet Machines and Plant Maintenance. From 1998 to 2002 he worked with B-Ten Systems in Arvada, Co. as Machinist, Assembler of Automated Assemble Machines, Metal stamping Dies.

Mr. Kilgore joined The Pioneer Astronautics Team in January 2003 and has become the fabrication lead for all of the projects and photo documenter of all projects at Pioneer.

James has worked on the following projects with Pioneer:

• NASA Lift Gas Cracker Phase 1 SBIR, with Senior Engineer Mr. Mark Berggren and Intern B. Jane Peterman.
• NASA LOX Olefin Phase 1 SBIR, with K- Mark Caviezel, Senior Engineer, Dr. Gary Snyder Senior Engineer, and Intern Dave Strott.
• NASA Nitrous Oxide Propellant System Phase 1 SBIR, with Greg Mungas Lead Development Engineer and Intern Luie Vecchiarelli.
• Methane Aramaitcs Synthesis Ph 2 SBIR, With Dr. Tony Muscatello Principal Investigator and Interne Dave Strott.

Outside of work, James enjoys building and running of Nitromethanal powered radio controlled vehicles. These include a Traxxas Tmaxx with a motor size of .15, ( it’s a BIG & BAD 4X4 Truck ), and a Hirobo 3D Helicopter. The helicopter has a motor size of .50 & a main rotor diameter of 52½ inch. These are not toys, their very complex machines for Big Boys and Girls... ok, big kids. He also works with friend K-Mark Caviezel who is the founder of the Edgewater Sub Orbital Space society (ES-OS), developing, flying, tracking and recovery of heavy high altitude heavy lifting research balloons. In addition, James likes skateboarding, snowboarding, and all kinds of winter sports.