team that pro-

these activities

1-2, A-12, and
n NRO recon-

ised a process

ogram B elec-

Don F. Tanc
Mr. Don Tang, as a Lockheed spacecraft engineer in Program A, established a “collection scale” for
determining what signals could be technically collected at affordable costs.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1960-1995

ALBERT D. “BuD” WHEELON, PH.D.
The first director of the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, Dr. Albert Wheelon was
responsible for U-2 overflights and development of OXCART and three major satellite reconnais-
sance systems.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1962-1966

Peter G. WILHELM
As the chief spacecraft engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory, Mr. Peter Wilhelm invented new tech-
niques and devices that added capabilities and improved performance of signals intelligence satellites.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1959-

Roy H. WorTHINGTON, CoLoneLt, USAF
Colonel Roy Worthington, Deputy Commander of the 6594" Aerospace Test Wing, directed the inte-
gration and launch of some 200 satellites from the Western Test Range.
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1962-1968

Rosert W. YUNDT, COLONEL, USAF

Colonel Robert Yundt directed the Signals Intelligence Project Office in Program A, introducing a new,
long-lived, multi-purpose signals intelligence satellite.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1960-1966

1960-2000

ProneER RECOGNITION PROGRAM



JAMES

>. LEE

Colone

world’s

JOHN T
TRW’s

. includi

Jon H.

Colone

ligence



forts for Pro-

bit time.

an advanced

is a Means to

d lenses and

werflight pro-
NA satellites.

velopment of

PioneeR RECOGNITION

FRANCIS J. MADDEN
As chief engineer of the Itek Corporation's camera systems development program, Mr. Francis Madden
directed the design, test, and production of the CORONA cameras and its improved versions.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1956-1975

James T. MANNEN, COLONEL, USAF
As director of a vital imagery satellite program, Colonel James Mannen introduced procedures that
improved target tasking and significantly increased ground resolution and on-orbit system reliability.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1971-1993

Pau W. MayHew, Pu.D.

Dr. Paul Mayhew served as TRW’s payload project manager and system engineer for two unprecedented
signals intelligence satellite systems.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1964-1992

Reip D. Mayo
Mr. Reid Mayo, at the Naval Research Laboratory, conceived and designed the first Navy signals intel-
ligence satellite, GRAB/DYNO, and later served as project engineer and technical director of Program C.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1957-1981

James E. MORGAN
An early Navy champion of electronic intelligence satellite tactical support to military operations, Mr.
James Morgan developed the target tasking and data dissemination architectures for key Program C
systems.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1966-1992

1960-2000

PROGRAM



CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

A. Roy Burks

Mr. Roy Burks served as CIA Technical Director of Program B CORONA Program, successfully integrat-
ing Air Force, CIA, and contractor development teams.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1965-1995

FRANK S. BuzarpD, CoLonet, USAF
Colonel Frank Buzard was the Director of a Program A imaging satellite program, described then as “the
most complex electro-mechanical device ever placed in orbit,” yielding a record number of consecutive

successes.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1960-1972

Corne.ius W. “CONNIE” CHAMBERS
Mr. Cornelius Chambers, as a contractor with Lockheed, contributed flight “protective measures”
adopted for use on most NRO satellites, thus developing a novel approach to on-board fault detection.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1962-1994

JoHN O. Coptey, CoLonet, USAF
Colonel John Copley guided the development of Program A signals intelligence satellites from the earli-
est experiments to the later constellations that provided broader coverage.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1958-1975

Ropert H. CROTSER
‘As Lockheed’s business manager for the Program B electro-optical imaging satellite, Mr. Robert Crotser

wrote the handbook on cost and schedule management that remains a standard reference in spacecraft
acquisition.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1960-1989

hg 60-2000

JOHN J.
Mr: Jol

establi

Career

JAMES ¢
Mr. Ja
several

Caner

Gary S$

Colon
cessing

Career

THOMA
In 196
satellit

Career

FREDER
Mr. Fr
ligence

Career

ROBERT
ACIA
edge st

Career |


ProneeR RECOGNITION PROGRAM

James G. Baker, PH.D.
As a young Harvard astronomer, Dr. James G. Baker designed most of the lenses and many of the cam-
eras used in aerial overflights of “denied territory,” enabling the success of the U.S. peacetime strategic
reconnaissance policy.

lational Reconnaissance: 1940-19.

Lee BATTLE, JR., COLONEL, USAF
lonel Lee Battle directed the government-contractor team that produced, launched, and operated the

world’s first satellite film recover

N T. BENNETT
TRW’s chief engineer in support of Program B, Mr. John Bennett conceived the spacecraft design,
including the reflectors, used in signals intelligence

n nce: 1965-1982
mnaissance: 1965

N W. BROWNIN
Colonel John Browning directed a key s
first launch and operations.

Career in Nation

Jon H. Bryson, COLONEL

Colonel Jon Bryson directed the development, acquisition, and operation of a Program A signals intel-

ligence satellite system that handled rapidly increasing data rates

1966-195
2: 1966-199.

1960-200G



40 YEARS

CELEBRATING

Extis E. LAPIN FRANCIS
Mr. Ellis Lapin managed the Aerospace Corporation's system design and engineering efforts for Pro- As chief
gram A imaging satellites, improving flight operations by nearly doubling functional on-orbit time. directed
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1962-1967 Career it

Lroyp K. LAUDERDALE, PH.D. James T
Dr. Lloyd Lauderdale was Program Manager for the CIA Program B team that developed an advanced As dire
signals intelligence satellite from concept through first launch. improve
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1963-1984 Career it

RICHARD S. LEGHORN, CoLonet, USAF Pau W
Colonel Richard Leghorn articulated the concept of peacetime strategic reconnaissance as a means to Dr. Pau
warn of military and strategic surprise, and founded the Itek Corporation that produced lenses and signals
cameras for CORONA and other programs. Career i

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1946-1962

Reip D:

WALTER J. LEVISON Mr. Rei
Mr. Walter Levison, with the Itek Corporation, designed the camera for the GENETRIX overflight pro- ligence
gram, the camera for the WS-461L overflight program, and its panoramic variant for CORONA satellites. Career it

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1942-1975

James E

Howarp O. LORENZEN An earl
An early advocate of signals intelligence satellites, Mr. Howard Lorenzen directed the development of James N
GRAB, the nation’s first such program, at the Naval Research Laboratory. systems,
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1957-1973 Career in

ty 60-2000


*

OF NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE

Ist tO Oteride. One0r 20)


PioneeR RECOGNITION PROGRAM

VaL P. PELINE, PH.D.

fabricated, and | Dr. Val Peline served as Lockheed’s system test director and program manager for a key imagery intel-
satellite recon- ligence satellite program.
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1960-1988

Ropert M. POWELL
Mr. Robert Powell, Lockheed’s program manager for a key high-resolution satellite reconnaissance
and developed program, devised a novel payload pointing mechanism that greatly extended the lifetimes of satellites
ss in the field. in orbit.
reer in Na

onnaissance: 1959-19

EpwarpD H. REESE
anced Projects Mr. Edward Reese, General Electric’s program technical director, led the development of the ground
data system that integrated hardware and software to process digital imagery from electro-optical imag-

ing satellites.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1965.
satellite enter- OsmMOND J. “Ozzie” RITLAND, Major GENERAL, USAF
| and Eastman As the Air Force manager of the U-2 Program, General Osmond Ritland developed the service infra-

structure that made early overflights of the USSR possible.
Career in N

mal Reconnaissance: 1954-1965

Lee W. Rosperts, COLonet, USAF
ef of the CIA Colonel Lee Roberts directed improvements in an important Program A satellite reconnaissance effort
« that produced high-resolution imagery of the earth’s surface.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1971-1977

1960-2000


40 YEARS

CELEBRATING

Mark MORTON Vat P. I

Mr. Mark Morton directed General Electric’s Reentry Systems Division that designed, fabricated, and + Dr. Val
tested the reentry capsules used in the CORONA film-return satellite and in subsequent satellite recon- ligence s
naissance programs. Career ir

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1958-1970

ROBERT
ALDEN V. MUNSON, JR. Mr. Rol
Mr. Alden Munson, a contractor with the Aerospace Corporation and TRW, conceived and developed progran
a fully automatic electronic intelligence system that directly supported U.S. military forces in the field. in orbit

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1967-1994

Cuarves L. MurpHy, CoLoneL, USAF EDWARD
Colonel Charles Murphy served as the first field technical director of the CORONA Advanced Projects Mr. Edi
Integration Facility, the main link to the Intelligence Community. data sysi
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1958-1977 ing satel

Career ir

Freperic C.E. “Fritz” OpER, CoLonet, USAF

In the late 1950s, Colonel Frederic Oder directed the nation’s first reconnaissance satellite enter OsMONI
prise, the USAF WS-LI7L (later SAMOS) Program, continuing his career with Lockheed and Eastman As the
Kodak. structur
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1956-1984 Career ir
JOHN PARANGOSKY } Lee W.
Mr. John Parangosky, a key contributor to the U-2 and A-12 Programs, served as Chief of the CIA Colonel
Development Staff on the CORONA Program. ' that pro
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1954-1965 Career ir

aS

& :
110 “iyc0-2000


Cenc ccc ccc nn

PioneER RECOGNITION PROGRAM

JOHN J. CROWLEY
sfully integrat- i Mr. John Crowley served as CIA Chief of Program B's Office of Special Projects, and he is credited with
establishing a true partnership between the CIA and Defense Department elements of the NRO.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1965-1975

James C. DE BROEKERT
dthen as “the Mr. James de Broekert, a contractor with Advent Systems, Inc., contributed key payload designs for
of consecutive several of Program A’s first-generation signals intelligence satellites.

Ca in National Reconnaissance: 1960-

Gary S. Geyer, COLONEL, USAF

Colonel Gary Geyer's work resulted in notable improvements in signals intelligence collection, data pro-
ive measures” cessing, and dissemination that permitted the product to reach military and civil users in near real time.

ult detection. Career in National Reconnaissance: 1966-1999

Tuomas O. Haic, CoLonet, USAF
In 1961, Colonel Thomas Haig led a team that developed the operational polarorbiting meteorological
from the earli- satellite, its launch vehicle, and associated ground command and control stations.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1961-1965

FREDERICK H. KAUFMAN
Mr. Frederick Kaufman directed the TRW team that produced two important Program B signals intel-
ere Crotser ligence satellites, including the first communications crosslink system in space.

reer in National Reconnaissance: 1964-1991

e in spacecraft Ca

ROBERT J. KOHLER
A CIA photographic specialist, Mr. Robert Kohler introduced photographic edge measurement and
edge sharpening tools used to evaluate and enhance overhead imagery.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1967-1985

1960-200 Ge ay



Pioneer Rec ON PROGRAM

is with great pride that we dedicate the
National Reconnaissance Office Pioneer

Hall by enshrining these 46 distinguished

individuals whose contributions had such a significant impact

on the field of national reconnaiss:

It is especially fitting that we commemorate the induction of this first group of
Pioneers at the same time that we begin a yearlong series of events celebrating the

40 i of the founding of the NRO.

individuals left a lasting mark on national reconnaissance, and
in one way or another, profoundly influenced all those who followed in their
footsteps. This brief compilation of their contributions merely hints at the depth

Pioneers that the





on the fie

It is espe
Pioneers

40" anni

Each of

in one we

footsteps.



PIONEERS

OF NATIONAL RECONNA

FREEDOM'S SENTINEL IN SPACE

1960.2 0m ONG



40 YEARS

CELEBRATING

Cuar_es R. “CHARLIE” ROTH Don F.
Mr. Charles Roth served as the CIA manager in Program B for the governmentindustry team that pro- } Mr. Do
duced the first electro-optical imaging reconnaissance satellite system. determi
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1966-1988 Career i

Rosert W. “Ros” Roy, CoLonet, USAF ALBERT

Colonel Robert Roy directed NRO launch operations at Vandenberg AFB at a time when these activities The fir

increased dramatically. respon:
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1958-1964 sance s\
Career i

Cuar_es P. SPOELHOF
Mr. Charles Spoelhof, an Eastman Kodak official, collaborated on the design of the U-2, A-12, and PETER C
SAMOS cameras, and directed efforts that led to the application of thin-based Mylar film in NRO recon- As the
naissance satellites. niques
v in National Reconnaissance: 1954-1985 Career i
Forrest H. STIEG Roy H.
Mr. Forrest Stieg, a CIA engineer and spacecraft operations specialist in Program B, devised a process Colone
for selecting an optimum orbit that balanced signals collection with vehicle longevity. gration
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1971 Career i
Marvin S. STONE, PH.D. J ROBERT
Dr. Marvin Stone served as a TRW payload systems engineer and project manager on Program B elec- Colone
tronic intelligence satellite programs. longilv
Career in National Reconnaissance: 1968-1988 ' Career i

1112 “ho 60-2000