Charles J. Donlan

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Charles J. Donlan
aeronautical engineer
Years active1938–1976
AwardsNASA Distinguished Service Medal
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Outstanding Public Leadership Medal

Charles Joseph Donlan (July 15, 1916 – September 28, 2011) was an American NASA researcher and manager, who was involved in the development of its facilities and research techniques, and the formulation, implementation, and direction of technical programs in support of manned and unmanned space exploration.

Early life and career

Donlan was born in

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), by John Victory, its Executive Secretary.[2]

Donlan moved to

Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, where he worked for two years in the 15-foot (4.6 m) Free-Spinning Tunnel that had been designed by Charles H. Zimmerman. He then spent a year working with Robert T. Jones.[2]

During World War II Donlan was involved in the design and operation of two new 7-by-10-foot (2.1 by 3.0 m) tunnels, and rose to become director of the facility from 1945 to 1952. He made contributions to the science and engineering of the swept wing, investigating and solving the pitch-up problems that affected the early swept-wing fighters, and developed a variable swept wing for the Bell X-1. He was also involved in the development of fighters such as the Vought F-8 Crusader.[2]

Donlan represented Langley as a member of the NACA Research Airplane Panel, which oversaw the

McDonnell Aircraft.[2]

In 1960, Donlan left the STG to become the Associate Director at Langley. He became Deputy Director in 1967. As such, he oversaw the

Lunar Orbiter Project. On May 1, 1968, he became Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight (Technical) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. From November 1970 to April 1973 he was the Director of the Space Shuttle Program. He retired from NASA in 1976, and became a consultant with the Institute for Defense Analyses.[2]

Later life and death

During his long career at NASA, Donlan received many honors and awards, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1963, the Special Award for Outstanding Leadership in 1968, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1971, the NASA Exceptional Performance Award in 1976, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1976. He became a member of the Tau Beta Pi Association in 1938, and was a fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics. He received the Randolph Lovelace II Award from the American Astronautical Society in 1976 and the Eugen Sanger Medal Award from the German Society for the Promotion of Aeronautics in 1977, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Aeronautical Engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1972.[2]

Donlan lived in

Bình Thuận province on February 28, 1969, during the Vietnam War.[1][3]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Charles Joseph Donlan Obituary – Hampton, VA". dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Charles J. Donlan". NASA. May 24, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Richard M. Donlan Army". Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
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