John Luther McLucas(August 22, 1920 – December 1, 2002) wasUnited States Secretary of the Air Forcefrom 1973 to 1975, becoming Secretary of the Air Force on July 19, 1973. He had been Acting Secretary of the Air Force since May 15, 1973, andUnder Secretary of the Air Forcesince March 1969. Before he was appointed Under Secretary, he was president and chief executive officer ofMITRE Corporation,ofBedford, Massachusetts,andMcLean, Virginia.
John McLucas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Administrator of theFederal Aviation Administration | |
| In office November 24, 1975 – April 1, 1977 | |
| President | Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Alexander Butterfield |
| Succeeded by | Langhorne Bond |
| 10thUnited States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office July 19, 1973 – November 23, 1975 Acting: May 15, 1973 – July 19, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Robert Seamans |
| Succeeded by | James W. Plummer(Acting) |
| 4thDirector of the National Reconnaissance Office | |
| In office March 17, 1969 – December 20, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Alexander H. Flax |
| Succeeded by | James W. Plummer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1920 Fayetteville, North Carolina,U.S. |
| Died | December 1, 2002(aged 82) Alexandria, Virginia,U.S. |
| Education | Davidson College(BS) Tulane University(MS) Pennsylvania State University, University Park(PhD) |
McLucas was born inFayetteville, North Carolina.He attended public schools inMcCollandLatta, South Carolina,graduating from Latta High School in 1937. He received a bachelor of science degree fromDavidson Collegein 1941, a master of science degree in physics fromTulane Universityin 1943, and his doctorate in physics fromPennsylvania State Universityin 1950.
During World War II, he served as an officer in theUnited States Navyfrom 1943 to 1946. After one year at theAir Force Cambridge Research Centerin Cambridge, Massachusetts, he enrolled atPennsylvania State University.
From 1950 to 1957, he was vice president and technical director of Haller, Raymond and Brown Inc., an electronics firm atState College, Pennsylvania.In 1958 he was made president of HRB-Singer Inc. He joined the Department of Defense in May 1962 and served as Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering (Tactical Warfare Programs).
He was appointed as assistant secretary general for scientific affairs at NATO Headquarters in Paris, France, two years later. In 1966 he became president of MITRE Corp., where he remained until he was appointed undersecretary of the Air Force on March 17, 1969.
From 1969 through 1973, McLucas also served as director of theNational Reconnaissance Office,working directly for the secretary of defense with support from theCentral Intelligence Agency.[1]
In November 1975, President Gerald Ford swore in Dr. McLucas as the eighth administrator of theFederal Aviation Administration.
McLucas was the author of numerous scientific articles and holds ten U.S. patents. He was the founder or co-founder of several small businesses and was active in civic affairs in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
He was elected a fellow of theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineersin 1962; associate fellow of theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronauticsin 1971; and member of theNational Academy of Engineeringin 1969. He received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 1964, and first bronze palm in 1973; and the Air Force Exceptional Service Award in May 1973.
He was a member of the Chief Executives Forum;American Physical Society;Operations Research Society of America;and of several honorary societies, includingSigma Pi SigmaandSigma Xi.He was also a member of theDefense Science Board,Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and the Young Presidents Organization.
McLucas died on December 1, 2002.
References
edit- ^Laurie, Clayton. Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961-2001. Office of the Historian, National Reconnaissance Office. 1 May 2002.
This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theUnited States Air Force