Dr. Raymond E. Christal, father of CODAP and mentor for most military job analysts, was a proponent for the IJOA and a member of its Advisory Panel. He was a major innovator in military occupational and personality research, primarily through the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory.

After serving for four years as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II, Ray received his bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology from the University of North Texas in Denton and his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. From 1952 to 1980, he worked as a civil service research psychologist for the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory (AFHRL, now the Human Resources Directorate of the Armstrong Laboratory) at Brooks Air Force Base. Following his "retirement" Ray became Chief of the Learning Abilities Measurement Program (LAMP) working half-time as a "re-employed annuitant" until 1984. Subsequently, he served as a contract researcher (through Metrica, Inc.) with several R&D programs (including five factor personality assessment), working on site at the laboratory. He was returning to his office at the lab from lunch when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

His most influential works were in the areas of personality theory and assessment, learning abilities measurement, occupational analysis and the Comprehensive Occupational Data Analysis Programs (CODAP) system, which benefited not only the Air Force, but other services, allied military services, the business world, and private industry.

In December 1994, Dr. Christal became the first American to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Plymouth University in Great Britain, and additionally received a congratulatory commendation from the Honorable Fred Pang, Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Defense, Force Management and Policy (see the February 1995 issue of the IJOA newsletter). Ray was earlier awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and, additionally, the Exceptional Civilian Service award, the highest award that can be earned from the Air Force by a civilian.

Among his many activities, Dr. Christal was a charter member and fellow of the American Psychological Society (APS), and fellow of several divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA). He was a frequent presenter at the International Military Testing Association (IMTA) annual conferences.