 Quintanilla succeeded Lieutenant Colonel Robert Friend.He was selected to be the next Project Blue Book Officer by Colonel Eric T. de Jonckheere, who explained to Quintanilla that he was looking to fill the position with a man with a degree in physics, with maturity, drive, and a man who was cool under pressure; Quintanilla shook his head and felt he only met the physics degree requirement.Colonel Joncheere told Quintanilla to take the job for a few weeks and report back to him.