Nielsen Engineering & Research (NEAR) was founded and incorporated in the State of California in 1966 by Dr. Jack N. Nielsen, a noted aerodynamics researcher, to work on applied research in the aerodynamics of flight vehicles. Originally, the focus at NEAR was on the prediction of missile aerodynamic characteristics and store separation analyses, but since 1980 the business interests have expanded to include basic and applied research in the areas of fluid mechanics and related technologies. The emphasis has been and continues to be, concentrated in providing high quality services in understanding flow phenomena, technology development, and problem solving. With no conflict of interest or allegiance to any particular agency, company, or technology, NEAR is in an excellent position to apply the very latest state-of-the-art methods and knowledge, both its own and that of others, to problems for its clients.