Joseph V. Charyk

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Joseph V. Charyk
Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
In office
September 6, 1961[1] – March 1, 1963
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Succeeded byBrockway McMillan
7th United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
In office
January 28, 1960 – March 1, 1963
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Preceded byDudley C. Sharp
Succeeded byBrockway McMillan
Personal details
Born
Joseph Vincent Charyk

(1920-09-09)September 9, 1920
Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Died September 28, 2016(2016-09-28) (aged 96)
Delray Beach, Florida, U.S.
Residence(s)Delray Beach, Florida
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
California Institute of Technology
OccupationGovernment official, space scientist

Joseph Vincent Charyk (September 9, 1920 – September 28, 2016) was widely credited as the founder of the geosynchronous communications satellite industry. He was born in

A-12.[2]

In 1980, Charyk was elevated to the grade of

IEEE fellow for leadership in the development and application of communications satellite systems.[3]

Charyk served as

Communications Satellite Corporation. Charyk decided to make geosynchronous satellites the basis of the Comsat network. He fought skepticism that this untested technology would not work for voice transmission because of a half-second time delay. He also raised funds to support this new industry and enlisted the cooperation of countries around the world. His efforts launched a global system that would eventually seem commonplace to billions of people around the world. While at Comsat, Charyk served as President, CEO, and Chairman from 1963 to 1985.[5]

Charyk earned his bachelor's degree in engineering and physics from the University of Alberta and his PhD in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology. In 1973 Charyk was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering for "basic contributions relating to space flight and leadership in development of communications satellites".[6] In 1974 he received the International Emmy Directorate Award for his work with COMSAT.[7] In 1987 President Ronald Reagan awarded Charyk the National Medal of Technology and Innovation "[f]or employment of the concept of the geosynchronous communications satellite systems as the basis for a global telecommunications system, established by international agreement, and for his guidance in the development and growth of the Intelsat system, which today services over 150 nations and territories".[8] Charyk died on September 28, 2016, at the age of 96.[9]

References

  1. ^ Laurie, Clayton. Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961-2001. Office of the Historian, National Reconnaissance Office. 1 May 2002.
  2. ^ National Reconnaissance Office. "NRO Directors: Dr. Joseph Charyk". nro.gov. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. ^ "IEEE Fellows 1980 | IEEE Communications Society".
  4. ^ Ford, Towbridge. "This History of the NRO". rockythedog.net. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Charyk". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 11, 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  6. ^ National Academy of Engineering. "NAE Members". National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Previous Awards". iemmys.tv. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  8. ^ "The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Recipients". uspto.gov. 7 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Obituary For: Joseph Vincent Charyk". Retrieved October 3, 2016.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
January 28, 1960 – March 1, 1963 		Succeeded by
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