Joseph V. Charyk
Joseph V. Charyk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1stDirector of the National Reconnaissance Office | |
| In office September 6, 1961[1]– March 1, 1963 | |
| President | John F. Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Brockway McMillan |
| 7thUnited States Under Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office January 28, 1960 – March 1, 1963 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Dudley C. Sharp |
| Succeeded by | Brockway McMillan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Vincent Charyk September 9, 1920 Canmore, Alberta,Canada |
| Died | September 28, 2016(aged 96) Delray Beach, Florida,U.S. |
| Residence(s) | Delray Beach, Florida |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta California Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Government official, space scientist |
Joseph Vincent Charyk(September 9, 1920 – September 28, 2016) was widely credited as the founder of the geosynchronous communications satellite industry. He was born inCanmore, Albertato a Ukrainian family. Early in his career, Charyk consolidated theCentral Intelligence Agency,United States Air Force,andUnited States Navyspace programs into theNational Reconnaissance Office(NRO). He brought the first United States imagery satellite,CORONA,into operation and demonstrated signals intelligence technology from space. During his tenure, theNROoperated theU-2reconnaissance aircraft and managed development of theA-12.[2]
In 1980, Charyk was elevated to the grade ofIEEEfellow for leadership in the development and application of communications satellite systems.[3]
Charyk served asChief Scientist of the United States Air Forceuntil he was appointed the Undersecretary of the Air Force. In 1961 he was appointed byPresident John F. Kennedyto be the firstDirector of the National Reconnaissance Office.[4]He later returned to aerospace industry, serving as first president ofCommunications Satellite Corporation.Charyk decided to make geosynchronous satellites the basis of the Comsat network. He fought skepticism that this untested technology would not work for voice transmission because of a half-second time delay. He also raised funds to support this new industry and enlisted the cooperation of countries around the world. His efforts launched a global system that would eventually seem commonplace to billions of people around the world. While at Comsat, Charyk served as President, CEO, and Chairman from 1963 to 1985.[5]
Charyk earned his bachelor's degree in engineering and physics from theUniversity of Albertaand his PhD in Aeronautics from theCalifornia Institute of Technology.In 1973 Charyk was inducted into theNational Academy of SciencesandNational Academy of Engineeringfor "basic contributions relating to space flight and leadership in development of communications satellites".[6]In 1974 he received theInternational Emmy Directorate Awardfor his work withCOMSAT.[7]In 1987 PresidentRonald Reaganawarded Charyk theNational Medal of Technology and Innovation"[f]or employment of the concept of the geosynchronous communications satellite systems as the basis for a global telecommunications system, established by international agreement, and for his guidance in the development and growth of the Intelsat system, which today services over 150 nations and territories".[8]Charyk died on September 28, 2016, at the age of 96.[9]
References
[edit]- ^Laurie, Clayton. Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961-2001. Office of the Historian, National Reconnaissance Office. 1 May 2002.
- ^National Reconnaissance Office."NRO Directors: Dr. Joseph Charyk".nro.gov.Archived fromthe originalon 23 February 2016.Retrieved3 July2014.
- ^ "IEEE Fellows 1980 | IEEE Communications Society".
- ^Ford, Towbridge."This History of the NRO".rockythedog.net.Retrieved3 July2014.
- ^"Charyk".Encyclopedia Astronautica.Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2002.Retrieved3 July2014.
- ^National Academy of Engineering."NAE Members".National Academy of Engineering.Retrieved3 July2014.
- ^"Previous Awards".iemmys.tv.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-05.Retrieved2010-04-06.
- ^"The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Recipients".uspto.gov.7 February 2023.
- ^"Obituary For: Joseph Vincent Charyk".RetrievedOctober 3,2016.
External links
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1920 births
- 2016 deaths
- Directors of the National Reconnaissance Office
- National Medal of Technology recipients
- Chief Scientists of the United States Air Force
- People from Canmore, Alberta
- People from Delray Beach, Florida
- American people of Ukrainian descent
- Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering
- International Emmy Directorate Award
- University of Alberta alumni
- Kennedy administration personnel
- Canadian emigrants to the United States