{"id":207718,"date":"2023-03-08T18:50:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T23:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=people&p=207718"},"modified":"2023-06-22T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T17:51:28","slug":"smith-defrance","status":"publish","type":"people","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith J. DeFrance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-bio-intro maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-bio-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"hds-bio-intro-container grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4 desktop:grid-col-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-bio-thumbnail width-10 tablet:width-card desktop:width-card-lg\">\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"Portrait of Smith J. DeFrance, First Director of Ames Research Center 1940-1965 (then Ames Aeronautical Laboratory).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 32% 33%; object-position: 32% 33%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=1638,2048 1638w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=480,600 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=720,900 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=960,1200 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=1600,2000 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-7 desktop:grid-col-9 grid-row margin-0 padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1 desktop:margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"display-60 display-block width-full\">Smith J. DeFrance<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg padding-0 margin-0 color-carbon-60\">Former Engineer-in-Charge and First Director at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Smith J. \u201cSmitty\u201d DeFrance served as the first and only Engineer-in-Charge of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory at Moffett Field, California. He later became the laboratory’s first Director with its transition to Ames Research Center after the founding of NASA in 1958.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Born in 1896, DeFrance was a native of Battle Creek, Michigan. At the outbreak of World War I, he flew SPAD biplanes over France as a fighter pilot and flight commander in the 139th Aero Squadron, where he was credited with two air-to-air victories and earned a Silver Star medal. He then returned to his home state and attended the University of Michigan, which was the second American university to offer a degree in aeronautical engineering. After earning a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering, he joined Langley in July 1922 as employee number 63.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He spent the first 18 years of his career with the NACA working at Langley, where he gained fame as a test pilot in flight projects and as a designer and manager of unique wind tunnels that gained worldwide recognition. With a special interest in electrical engineering, DeFrance was initially assigned the task of designing the balance system in the newly opened Variable Density Tunnel, but soon moved to the flight test organization. As assistant head of the Langley flight research section, he conceived new instruments and procedures on how to use them. From this leadership position, DeFrance helped professionalize the role of experimental test pilot by developing novel methods of collecting pressure data in flight and of photographing flightpaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In August 1924, DeFrance was flying a Curtiss Jenny with a junior engineer named Steven Bromley. During the flight, DeFrance lost control and the plane crashed, killing Bromley and severely injuring DeFrance, who spent nine months in Walter Reed Hospital and lost an eye. After recovering, he promised his wife that he would never fly on an airplane again\u2013and he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the accident, DeFrance stayed on the ground, but continued to work on two research flight activities: defining air pressures over dirigibles (the centerpiece of the new Navy air fleet); and braking techniques to reduce the ground roll of aircraft after landings. After 7 years at Langley, he moved completely into engineering and research management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 1929, following the highly successful contributions of Langley’s revolutionary Variable Density Tunnel and the Propeller Research Tunnel, the NACA Main Committee authorized construction of a 30 by 60-foot Full Scale Tunnel at Langley, one of the most important facilities in the early history of the NACA. DeFrance was tasked to manage the construction and early research applications of the new tunnel as principal aeronautical engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Construction of the massive facility was completed on time and under budget in May 1931. It was the largest wind tunnel in the world at the time, paving the way for unprecedented aerodynamic studies of full-scale aircraft. DeFrance then became head of the Full Scale Tunnel group, managing research priorities and serving as head researcher. Having the ability to test full-scale, powered airplanes, he published results of investigations of the effects of retractable landing gear and wing surface condition on aerodynamic performance. He also led studies requested by the military on engine cooling and drag reduction. The highly successful facility continued to operate in support of the nation\u2019s major aerospace projects for almost 80 years, until it was demolished in 2011, far beyond DeFrance\u2019s vision when he designed it in the 1930s.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Photograph of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Director Smith DeFrance greeting original staff members just before before a group photo is taken.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 49% 37%; object-position: 49% 37%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg 3072w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/8873-m-704-2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Ames Aeronautical Laboratory Director Smith DeFrance greeting original staff members just before before a group photograph is taken. August 30, 1940. Image record M-704-2.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NACA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>DeFrance had firmly established himself as a premier designer and operational manager of major wind-tunnel facilities. In the mid-1930s, he was promoted by Langley\u2019s Engineer-in-Charge Henry J. E. Reid to become Assistant Chief of the Aerodynamics Division, directing the operations of Langley\u2019s four largest and most intensively used wind tunnels: The Full Scale Tunnel, the 19-Foot Pressure Tunnel, the Propeller Research Tunnel, and the 8-Foot High-Speed Tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 1939, DeFrance was selected by NACA Headquarters to be the leader of construction and operations of the new Ames facility in California. DeFrance initially devoted his attention to the design, construction and staffing issues of the new laboratory while at Langley. In August 1940, he left Langley to serve as the first Engineer-in-Charge of Ames. DeFrance had so impressed his research peers at Langley that many of them transferred to Ames with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He continued to lead Ames until his retirement in 1965. During his tenure as Director, more than 19 major wind tunnels were built and entered operational service at Ames.\u00a0He was the only director of Ames during the NACA era, and served in that capacity for 25 years. He passed away in 1985.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-meet-the bg-carbon-90 maxw-full width-full padding-y-5 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-meet-the\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-x-0 minh-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"label line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white\">ames center directors<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-left-0 hds-meet-the-container padding-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-cards hds-meet-the-slider grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Smith J. DeFrance, First Director of Ames Research Center 1940-1965 (then Ames Aeronautical Laboratory).\" style=\"transform: scale(2); transform-origin: 42% 27%; object-position: 42% 27%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Smith J. DeFrance<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">July 1940 – October 1965<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/h-julian-allen\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-28536-allen.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Studio Portrait of Ames Director H. Julian Allen\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 77% 26%; object-position: 77% 26%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-28536-allen.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-28536-allen.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-28536-allen.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-28536-allen.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/h-julian-allen\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">H. Julian Allen<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">October 1965-November 1968<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/hans-mark\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac74-1494-mark.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Dr. Hans Mark, Director of Ames Research Center (1969-1978).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.7); transform-origin: 60% 22%; object-position: 60% 22%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac74-1494-mark.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac74-1494-mark.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac74-1494-mark.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac74-1494-mark.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/hans-mark\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Hans Mark<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">February 1969-August 1977<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/clarence-a-syvertson\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac82-0502-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Clarence "Sy" Syvertson, Director of Ames Research Center (1978-1984).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 47% 33%; object-position: 47% 33%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac82-0502-1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac82-0502-1.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac82-0502-1.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac82-0502-1.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/clarence-a-syvertson\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Clarence A. Syvertson<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">August 1977-January 1984<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/william-f-ballhaus-jr\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of William F. Ballhaus Jr., Ames Center Director (1984-1989).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.4); transform-origin: 38% 54%; object-position: 38% 54%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg 4064w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=298,300 298w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=768,773 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=1017,1024 1017w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=1525,1536 1525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=2034,2048 2034w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=397,400 397w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=596,600 596w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=894,900 894w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=1192,1200 1192w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac87-0158-ballhaus.jpg?resize=1986,2000 1986w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/william-f-ballhaus-jr\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">William F. Ballhaus<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">January 1984-February 1988<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/dale-l-compton\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac90-0019-4.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Dr. Dale L. Compton, Director of Ames Research Center (1989-1994).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.7); transform-origin: 60% 24%; object-position: 60% 24%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac90-0019-4.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac90-0019-4.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac90-0019-4.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac90-0019-4.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/dale-l-compton\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Dale L. Compton<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">February 1988-January 1994<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/ken-munechika\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac94-0006-002.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Ken Munechika, Director of Ames Research Center (1994-1996).\" style=\"transform: scale(1.3); transform-origin: 32% 23%; object-position: 32% 23%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac94-0006-002.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac94-0006-002.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac94-0006-002.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac94-0006-002.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/ken-munechika\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Ken Munechika<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">January 1994-March 1996<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/henry-mcdonald\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac99-0126-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Dr. Henry 'Harry' McDonald, Ames Research Center Director (1996-2002).\" style=\"transform: scale(2); transform-origin: 50% 22%; object-position: 50% 22%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac99-0126-1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac99-0126-1.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac99-0126-1.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac99-0126-1.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/henry-mcdonald\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Henry McDonald<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">March 1996-September 2002<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/g-scott-hubbard\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Scott Hubbard\" style=\"transform: scale(1.4); transform-origin: 41% 61%; object-position: 41% 61%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg 3150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ac98-0262-1.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/g-scott-hubbard\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">G. Scott Hubbard<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">September 2002-February 2006<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/simon-p-worden\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd06-0070-001.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Studio Portrait of Ames Center Director (2006-2015) Simon Pete Worden.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 29% 35%; object-position: 29% 35%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd06-0070-001.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd06-0070-001.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd06-0070-001.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd06-0070-001.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/simon-p-worden\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Simon P. Worden<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">May 2006-March 2015<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/ames-eugene-tu\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd15-0087.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Portrait of Dr. Eugene Tu, Ames Center Director (2015-Present).\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 48% 32%; object-position: 48% 32%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd15-0087.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd15-0087.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd15-0087.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/acd15-0087.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/ames-eugene-tu\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Eugene L. Tu<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">May 2015-Present<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav hds-carousel-nav-next display-flex margin-right-auto margin-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-left-0 margin-right-0\" aria-label=\"Next Person\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smith J. \u201cSmitty\u201d DeFrance served as the first and only Engineer-in-Charge of Ames Aeronautical Laboratory at Moffett Field, California. He later became the laboratory’s first Director with its transition to Ames Research Center after the founding of NASA in 1958. Born in 1896, DeFrance was a native of Battle Creek, Michigan. At the outbreak of World [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":205701,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_people_facebook_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_twitter_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_instagram_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_linkedin_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_title":"Former Engineer-in-Charge and First Director at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center"},"categories":[2854,2671,2668],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10255,3902,11519],"coauthors":[8631],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Smith J. DeFrance","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"James Anderson"}],"creator":["James Anderson"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["People of NASA","Ames Research Center","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2023-03-08T23:50:06Z","datePublished":"2023-03-08T23:50:06Z","dateModified":"2023-06-22T17:51:28Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Smith J. DeFrance\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/smith-defrance\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-03-08T23:50:06Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"People of NASA,Ames Research Center,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"James Anderson\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"featured_image":{"id":205701,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a-22319.jpg","title":"A-22319","alt":"Portrait of Smith J. DeFrance, First Director of Ames Research Center 1940-1965 (then Ames Aeronautical Laboratory).","caption":"Smith J. DeFrance, First Engineer-in-Charge\/Director of Ames Research Center (1940-1965). Formerly Ames Aeronautical Laboratory."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/207718"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/people"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/207718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":367918,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/207718\/revisions\/367918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207718"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=207718"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=207718"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=207718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}