Pioneers

of National Reconnaissance

2017
2 Pioneer Recognition Program Supr a Et Ultr a 2017 3

Supr a Et Ultr a

2017

Pioneers 

of National Reconnaissance
4 Pioneer Recognition Program Supr a Et Ultr a 2017

5

January 2019

The National Reconnaissance Pioneer Program recognizes and honors

individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to national 

reconnaissance—pioneering contributions that were innovative, remarkable, 

and changed the direction and scope of the discipline and its practice. It is the 

highest honor in the field of national reconnaissance. 

For the Pioneer Class of 2017, the Director of National Reconnaissance, Ms. Betty

Sapp, selected Mr. Timothy J. Barnes, whose pioneering innovations related to 

geolocation bias-correction methods have had a profound and lasting effect on 

NRO’s national and tactical missions. Mr. Barnes’ contributions in the late 1990s 

improved precision geolocation performance by an order of magnitude, and 

remain foundational to NRO geolocation systems today.

The January 2019 Pioneer Recognition Ceremony formally inducts Mr. Barnes,

the NRO’s 2017 Pioneer honoree, into NRO’s Pioneer Hall. Pioneer Hall is a

collection of commemorative medallions, one for each of NRO’s Pioneers of

National Reconnaissance. The medallions serve as enduring tributes to the pioneers’

trailblazing contributions to the discipline of national reconnaissance. This booklet

includes the words that appear on Mr. Barnes’ medallion and briefly explains the

nature of Pioneer Barnes’ specific contribution. Mr. Barnes’ medallion now joins the

other 92 medallions that commemorate the contributions of Pioneers from previous

classes. When you visit Pioneer Hall, I encourage you to review the citations on the

medallions to gain a sense of the scope of the Pioneers’ contributions and the lasting

impact they had on the NRO and our nation’s national security.

Robert A. McDonald, PhD.

Director, Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance

Foreword
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Mr. Timothy J. Barnes

In the late 1990’s Mr. Timothy J. Barnes pioneered geolocation bias-correction 

methods of profound and lasting effect on NRO’s national and tactical 

missions. These groundbreaking, technical advancements improved precision 

geolocation performance by an order of magnitude and remain foundational to 

NRO geolocation systems today.

Period of Pioneering Contribution: 1994–1996

Medallion Citation
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2017

Timothy J. Barnes

2016

Thomas R. Reinehr

2015

L. Porter Davis

2014

Thomas C. “Chris” Fitzsimmons

John. R Stavlo

2013

William G. Montgomery

Donald N. Simkins, Ph.D.

2012

Robert P. O’Donnell, Ph.D.

2011

Thomas A. Brackey

Joseph J. Eash III, Col, USAF (Ret)

Michael N. Parker, Ph.D.

John W. Shipley, Ph.D.

Richard C. Van Wagoner

2010

Robert H. Dumais

Jack A. Gibbs, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret)

Richard J. Randazzo, Col, USAF (Ret)

2009

James P. Campbell, Ph.D.

Lacy G. Cook

Michael F. Maguire

2008

Raymond E. Anderson, Col, USAF (Ret)

Howard G. Brotherton

Hilliard W. Paige, Sr.

2007

Paul G. Kaminski

Sun Yet Wong

2006

Ingard M. Clausen

Fred V. Hellrich

David L. Klinger, Ph.D.

Jane A. Wood

2005

Robert E. Eisenhauer

Roger C. Marsh

Edward A. Miller, Ph.D.

Wayne L. Proffitt

2004

M. Sam Araki

Harvey Cohen, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)

Robert G. Kaemmerer

James W. McAnally

2003

Carl L. Ferdensi, Jr.

David Raspet, Col, USAF (Ret)

James W. Stoner, Ph.D.

Charles C. Tevis

2002 

Vance D. Coffman, Ph.D. 

Lee M. Hammarstrom 

Robert L. Paulson, Col, USAF (Ret) 

2001

Donald L. Cromer, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret) 

A.J. (Tony) Iorillo 

Vincent S. Rose 

John Walton 

2000

James G. Baker, Ph.D. 

C. Lee Battle, Jr., Col, USAF (Ret)

John T. Bennett 

John W. Browning, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Jon H. Bryson, Col, USAF (Ret) 

A. Roy Burks 

Frank S. Buzard, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Cornelius W. “Connie” Chambers 

John O. Copley, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Robert H. Crotser 

John J. Crowley 

James C. de Broekert

Gary S. Geyer, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Thomas O. Haig, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Frederick H. Kaufman 

Robert J. Kohler 

Ellis E. Lapin 

Lloyd K. Lauderdale, Ph.D. 

Richard S. Leghorn, Col, USAF (Ret)

Walter J. Levison 

Howard O. Lorenzen 

Frank J. Madden 

James T. Mannen, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Paul W. Mayhew, Ph.D. 

Reid D. Mayo 

James E. Morgan 

Mark N. Morton 

Alden V. Munson, Jr. 

Charles L. Murphy, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Frederic C.E. “Fritz” Oder, Col, USAF (Ret)

John Parangosky

Julius P. “Val” Peline, Ph.D. 

Robert M. Powell 

Edward H. Reese 

Osmond J. “Ozzie” Ritland, 

Major General, USAF (Ret) 

Lee W. Roberts, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Charles R. “Charlie” Roth 

Robert W. “Rob” Roy, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Charles P. Spoelhof 

Forrest H. Stieg 

Marvin S. Stone, Ph.D. 

Don F. Tang 

Albert D. “Bud” Wheelon, Ph.D. 

Peter G. Wilhelm 

Roy H. Worthington, Col, USAF (Ret) 

Robert W. Yundt, Col, USAF (Ret)

Pioneers of National Reconnaissance

In the late 1990’s Mr. Barnes pioneered geolocation bias-correction methods 

and their implementation. During the Pioneer Recognition Ceremony for 

his induction into the NRO’s Pioneer Hall, his family was presented with a 

commemorative plaque citation, which states:

“In the late 1990’s Mr. Timothy J. Barnes pioneered geolocation 

bias-correction methods of profound and lasting effect on NRO’s 

national and tactical missions. These groundbreaking, technical 

advancements improved precision geolocation performance by an 

order of magnitude and remain foundational to NRO geolocation 

systems today.”

Mr. Barnes was associated with the NRO from 1983 until 2017 (32+ years of 

service) in three capacities. First, Mr. Barnes provided systems engineering and 

technical assistance for The Analytical Sciences Corporation (TASC). He was 

later employed by Zeta Associates as a subject matter expert and geolocation 

applications developer. In this role he advanced the state-of-the-art of overhead 

geolocation technology. Finally, he served as Program Manager for the MIDAS 

Studies Program, which grew to a contingent of 200 engineers and analysts. 

Mr. Barnes was born in Washington, D.C. He received a BS in aerospace 

engineering and an ME in systems engineering from the University of Virginia, 

and an MS in aerospace engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Barnes 

passed away on 16 February 2017.

Career in National Reconnaissance: 1983–2017

Timothy J. Barnes
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Pioneer Hall

National Reconnaissance Office

Chantilly, Virginia 
NRO| MSC

19-75466