NRO HONORS PIONEERS OF NATIONAL 

RECONNAISSANCE

August 18, 2000 

Forty years ago today, the world received its first pictures from space when a CORONA satellite 

capsule carrying film was caught in midair by an Air Force C-119 aircraft. With this recovery, 

space photo reconnaissance became a reality. 

In honor of this anniversary, the National Reconnaissance Office is proud to announce the 

selection of 46 Pioneers who made significant and lasting contributions to the discipline of 

national reconnaissance. Also acknowledged are10 Founders of national reconnaissance, 

scientists who contributed to the founding of this space discipline. Ceremonies to recognize the 

Pioneers and the Founders are scheduled for Sept. 27 at the NRO's headquarters in Chantilly, Va. 

The Pioneers of National Reconnaissance* are:

James G. Baker, Ph.D.

As a young Harvard astronomer, Dr. James G. Baker designed most of the lenses and many of 

the cameras used in aerial over flights of "denied territory," enabling the success of the U.S. 

peacetime strategic reconnaissance policy. 

C. Lee Battle, Jr., Colonel, USAF

Colonel Lee Battle directed the government and contractor team that produced, launched, and 

operated the world's first satellite film recovery system. 

John 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 satellite systems. 

John W. Browning, Colonel, USAF (posthumous)

Colonel John Browning directed a key signals intelligence satellite project for Program A, 

managing its first launch and operations. 

Jon H. Bryson, Colonel, USAF

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

intelligence satellite system that handled rapidly increasing data rates. 

A. Roy Burks

Mr. Roy Burks served as CIA Technical Director of Program B CORONA Program, successfully 

integrating Air Force, CIA, and contractor development teams. 

Frank S. Buzard, Colonel, 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. 

Cornelius 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. 

John O. Copley, Colonel, USAF

Colonel John Copley guided the development of Program A signals intelligence satellites from 

the earliest experiments to the later constellations that provided broader coverage. 

Robert 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. 

John J. Crowley (posthumous)

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. 

James C. de Broekert

Mr. James de Broekert, a contractor with Advent Systems, Inc., contributed key payload designs 

for several of Program A's first-generation signals intelligence satellites. 

Gary S. Geyer, Colonel, USAF 

Colonel Gary Geyer's work resulted in notable improvements in signals intelligence collection, 

data processing, and dissemination that permitted the product to reach military and civil users in 

near real time. 

Thomas O. Haig, Colonel, USAF 

In 1961, Colonel Thomas Haig led a team that developed the operational polar-orbiting 

meteorological satellite, its launch vehicle, and associated ground command and control stations. 

Frederick H. Kaufman

Mr. Frederick Kaufman directed the TRW team that produced two important Program B signals 

intelligence satellites, including the first communications cross-link system in space. 

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. 

Ellis E. Lapin

Mr. Ellis Lapin managed the Aerospace Corporation's system design and engineering efforts for 
Program A imaging satellites, improving flight operations by nearly doubling functional on-orbit 

time. 

Lloyd K. Lauderdale, Ph.D. (posthumous)

Dr. Lloyd Lauderdale was Program Manager for the CIA Program B team that developed an 

advanced signals intelligence satellite from concept through first launch. 

Richard S. Leghorn, Colonel, USAF

Colonel Richard Leghorn articulated the concept of peacetime strategic reconnaissance in 1946 

as a means to warn of military and strategic surprise, and founded the Itek Corporation that 

produced lenses and cameras for the CORONA and other systems. 

Walter J. Levison (posthumous)

Mr. Walter Levison, with the Itek Corporation, designed the camera for the GENETRIX 

overflight program, the camera for the WS-461L over flight program, and its panoramic variant 

for CORONA satellites. 

Howard O. Lorenzen (posthumous)

An early advocate of signals intelligence satellites, Mr. Howard Lorenzen directed the 

development of GRAB, the nation's first such program, at the Naval Research Laboratory. 

Frank J. Madden

As chief engineer of the Itek Corporation's camera systems development program, Mr. Frank 

Madden directed the design, test, and production of the CORONA cameras and its improved 

versions. 

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. 

Paul W. Mayhew, Ph.D.

Dr. Paul Mayhew served as TRW's payload project manager and system engineer for two 

unprecedented signals intelligence satellite systems. 

Reid D. Mayo

Mr. Reid Mayo, at the Naval Research Laboratory, conceived and designed the first Navy signals 

intelligence satellite, GRAB/DYNO, and later served as project engineer and technical director 

of Program C.

James E. Morgan (posthumous)

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. 
Mark N. Morton

Mr. Mark Morton directed General Electric's Reentry Systems Division that designed, fabricated, 

and tested the reentry capsules used in the CORONA film-return satellite and in subsequent 

satellite reconnaissance programs. 

Alden V. Munson, Jr. Mr. Alden Munson, a contractor with the Aerospace Corporation and 

TRW, conceived and developed a fully automatic electronic intelligence system that directly 

supported U.S. military forces in the field. 

Charles L. Murphy, Colonel, USAF 

Colonel Charles Murphy served as the first field technical director of the CORONA Advanced 

Projects Integration Facility, the main link to the Intelligence Community. 

Frederic C.E. "Fritz" Oder, Colonel, USAF

In the late 1950s, Colonel Frederic Oder directed the nation's first reconnaissance satellite 

enterprise, the USAF WS-117L (later SAMOS) Program, continuing his career with Lockheed 

and Eastman Kodak. 

Julius P. "Val" Peline, Ph.D.

Dr. Julius Peline served as Lockheed's system test director and program manager for a key 

imagery intelligence satellite program. 

Robert M. Powell

Mr. Robert Powell, Lockheed's program manager for a key high-resolution satellite 

reconnaissance program, devised a novel orbital maneuver that greatly extended the lifetimes of 

satellites in orbit. 

Edward H. Reese

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 imaging satellites. 

Osmond J. "Ozzie" Ritland, Major General, USAF (posthumous)

As the Air Force manager of the U-2 Program, General Osmond Ritland developed the service 

infrastructure that made early overflights of the USSR possible. 

Lee W. Roberts, Colonel, USAF (posthumous)

Colonel Lee Roberts directed improvements in an important Program A satellite reconnaissance 

effort that produced high-resolution imagery of the earth's surface. 

Charles R. "Charlie" Roth (posthumous)

Mr. Charles Roth served as the CIA manager in Program B for the government-industry team 

that produced the first electro-optical imaging reconnaissance satellite system. 
Robert W. "Rob" Roy, Colonel, USAF

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

activities increased dramatically. 

Charles P. Spoelhof

Mr. Charles Spoelhof, an Eastman Kodak official, collaborated on the design of the U-2, A-12, 

and SAMOS cameras, and directed efforts that led to the application of thin-based Mylar film in 

NRO reconnaissance satellites. 

Forrest H. Stieg

Mr. Forrest Stieg, a CIA engineer and spacecraft operations specialist in Program B, devised a 

process for selecting an optimum orbit that balanced signals collection with vehicle longevity. 

Marvin S. Stone, Ph.D.

Dr. Marvin Stone served as a TRW payload systems engineer and project manager on Program B 

electronic intelligence satellite programs. 

Don F. Tang

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. 

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 

reconnaissance systems. 

Peter G. Wilhelm

As the chief spacecraft engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory, Mr. Peter Wilhelm invented 

new techniques and devices that added capabilities and improved performance of signals 

intelligence satellites. 

Roy H. Worthington, Colonel, USAF

Colonel Roy Worthington, Deputy Commander of the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing, directed the 

integration and launch of some 200 satellites from the Western Test Range. 

Robert 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. 

The Founders of National Reconnaissance are:

William O. Baker, Ph.D.

A physical chemist and signals intelligence expert at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Dr. William 

Baker served as scientific counselor to the NSA, CIA, USN, and NRO on overhead 

reconnaissance systems. He also served on the President's Science Advisory Committee and the 

President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. 
Merton E. Davies

An engineer, reconnaissance system designer, imagery interpreter, and space cartographer, Mr. 

Merton Davies invented the Spin-Pan camera and worked on designs for a family of film-based 

reconnaissance satellites that led to CORONA. Employed throughout his career at RAND, he 

also served on the panels that established reconnaissance requirements and advised on competing 

systems. 

Sidney D. Drell, Ph.D.

A theoretical physicist, Dr. Sidney Drell served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory 

Board and the President's Science Advisory Committee. He served as a key scientific consultant 

to Program B, and served on the Technology Review Panel of the Senate Select Committee on 

Intelligence where he was instrumental in securing approval and support for several NRO special 

projects. 

Richard L. Garwin, Ph.D.

A physicist, Dr. Richard Garwin served on the President's Science Advisory Committee, and 

chaired its panels on Military Aircraft, Anti-submarine and Naval Warfare. He established 

standards and found solutions for electromechanical design of modern spacecraft. As a champion 

of Electro-Optical Imaging, he helped Henry Kissinger understand its role for our national 

defense. 

Amrom H. Katz (posthumous)

A physicist involved in lens and camera design, Mr. Amrom Katz performed the first 

experimental simulation of electro-optical satellite imaging. At RAND, he co-directed a project 

on overflight reconnaissance, and co-proposed film-recovery satellites as an immediate 

alternative to the near-real-time readout satellite, a proposal eventually established as the 

CORONA Project. 

James R. Killian, Jr., Ph.D. (posthumous)

President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. James Killian chaired the panel that 

recommended building the U-2 aircraft and reconnaissance satellites. He chaired the President's 

Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the President's Science Advisory Committee. He also 

worked on Department of Defense-CIA agreements that structured the NRO. 

Edwin H. Land, Ph.D. (posthumous)

An imagery intelligence expert, Dr. Edwin Land was the Polaroid CEO and chaired the 

Intelligence Subcommittee of the Technology Capabilities Panel. As Chairman of the President's 

Science Advisory Committee Intelligence Panel, he advised the NRO on new and existing 

overhead systems. He played a vital role in advising President Nixon on the capabilities of 

Electro-Optical Imaging. 

Frank W. Lehan (posthumous)

An electrical engineer, Mr. Frank Lehan was a President's Science Advisory Committee member 

and served on the Land Panel that advised the NRO and Program B on overhead reconnaissance 

systems. He was instrumental in the decision to proceed with an important high altitude signals 

intelligence satellite system, and contributed to the reflector design for that system. 
William J. Perry, Ph.D.

A mathematician, Dr. William Perry served in the U.S. Army, and advised NSA and the CIA in 

programs to intercept and evaluate Soviet missile telemetry and communications intelligence. He 

chaired the "Perry Panel" that advised the CIA on all overhead signals intelligence collection, 

and later served as Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and Secretary of 

Defense. 

Edward M. Purcell, Ph.D. (posthumous)

Harvard Nobel Laureate and radar expert, Dr. Edward Purcell worked on all early overhead 

reconnaissance projects that operated at extreme altitudes. His main contribution involved 

methods to make these vehicles, if not invisible to radar, hard to observe with radar. He also 

chaired the Land Panel subcommittee that selected the Program B follow-on film recovery 

reconnaissance system. 

*One Pioneer requested no identification.