Coming of the Golden Dome

About the Book

Inevitable Story for Everyone Narrated by an
Insider Aerospace Engineer Destined to Tell It

Coming of the Golden Dome takes readers inside the largest, most expensive, and most ambitious defense initiative ever undertaken. Written in clear, accessible language, this timely political science analysis reveals how China, Russia, and the United States are competing for dominance in space—and what their strategies, investments, strengths, and vulnerabilities mean for global security. Discover the battlespace, traditional satellite network, the shift toward a resilient satellite network, and a quantitative Resilient Space Warfare System Checklist for evaluating the Golden Dome. The final chapter uncovers its global, multilayered architecture and the role of Kinetic Kill Vehicles (KKVs). Today’s geopolitical realities and technological breakthroughs have made this defense system inevitable. Now comes the defining challenge: making it work. Essential reading for the public, policymakers, national defense agencies and organizations, military and defense professionals, military cadets, aerospace engineering students, STEM students, veterans, military families, and anyone who wants to understand how America meets its foremost obligation: “Keep Citizens Safe!”
C. Robert “Bob” Welti, Ph.D., brings the precise qualifications required to author this book. A retired aerospace engineer, he combines advanced education, extensive defense-industry experience, and a proven ability to make complex technical concepts accessible to nontechnical readers. He provided systems engineering support for U.S. Air Force satellite programs, and his dissertation, “Recursive Navigation for the Midcourse Phase of Orbital Rendezvous,” directly relates to the Golden Dome’s Satellite-Based Interceptor. As a defense contractor Program Manager, he led the modernization of command software for the U.S. Air Force Satellite Control Network. His SCI clearance and comprehensive knowledge of U.S. surveillance satellite systems further establish his authority on the subject. He is also the author of Satellite Basics for Everyone, which demonstrates both his command of satellite technology and his ability to explain demanding technical subjects to a broad audience.

About the Author

C. Robert (Bob) Welti was ten years old during World War II, an era of American Unity, sacrifice, innovation, and resolve. He believes the nation prevailed because its Republic is rooted in individual freedoms, and he still recalls John F. Kennedy’s call to service: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Bob’s curiosity and drive to understand how things work helped him excel in school and led a grade-school mentor to encourage him toward engineering.

He earned a BA from Hofstra, a BSEE from Columbia, an MSEE from USC through a Hughes Fellowship, and a Ph.D. in Engineering from UCLA, specializing in Space Vehicle Dynamics, Computers, and Management. His 1967 dissertation, “Recursive Navigation and Guidance for the Midcourse Phase of Orbital Rendezvous,” was the first application of the Kalman Filter, which filters noisy measurements for high accuracy, of a satellite intercept which is essential for the Golden Dome. His early interest in servomechanisms and control systems led to work in inertial guidance, celestial navigation, and attitude control.

Bob has more than fifty years of experience in satellite navigation, guidance, and attitude control; and software systems, with roles spanning engineering, management, consulting, and teaching. His work included: ICBM guidance systems development, satellite programs evaluation and system engineering for the Air Force at The Aerospace Corporation, satellite systems development at Lockheed, Intelsat V attitude control development at Ford Aerospace, Air Force satellite control software development at Litton, and commercial software evaluations.

His online art gallery features science-themed oil paintings and French Impressionist scenes.

Bob has enjoyed sports, coaching, woodworking, remodeling, gardening, RV travel, and longtime leadership in Sons in Retirement. His books grew from presentations to SIR branches and other groups.

He enjoys retirement in California Gold Country with his wife, Kem, and their dog, Ella, enjoying family, travel, theater, golf, games, writing, painting, and woodworking.

The son of an immigrant butcher, he remains grateful for the freedoms and opportunities of our Republic.