T. Keith Glennan
T. Keith Glennan | |
---|---|
Case Institute of Technology | |
In office 1947–1966 | |
Preceded by | William E. Wickenden |
Succeeded by | Robert W. Morse |
Personal details | |
Born | Thomas Keith Glennan September 8, 1905 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Yale University |
Occupation | Administrator; Scientist; University dean |
Thomas Keith Glennan (September 8, 1905 – April 11, 1995) was the first Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, serving from August 19, 1958 to January 20, 1961.
Early career
Born in
Glennan joined the
Administration
As NASA Administrator, Glennan presided over an organization that had absorbed the earlier
Within a short time after NASA's formal organization, Glennan incorporated several organizations involved in space exploration projects from other federal agencies into NASA to ensure that a viable scientific program of space exploration could be reasonably conducted over the long-term. He brought in part of the Naval Research Laboratory in NASA and created for its use the Goddard Space Flight Center.
He also incorporated several disparate satellite programs, two lunar probes, and the research effort to develop a million pound force (4.4 MN) thrust, single-chamber rocket engine from the
By mid-1960, Glennan had secured for NASA primacy in the federal government for the execution of all space activities except reconnaissance satellites, ballistic missiles, and a few other space-related projects, most of which were still in the study stage, that the Defense Department controlled.
Later career
Upon leaving NASA in January 1961, Glennan returned to the Case Institute of Technology, where he continued to serve as president until 1966. During this period he helped to negotiate the merger of Case with Western Reserve University, creating Case Western Reserve University. After his retirement in 1966, Glennan spent two years as president of Associated Universities, Inc., a Washington-based advocate for institutions of higher education.
A resident of Reston, Virginia for twenty years after his retirement, he moved to Mitchellville, Maryland in the late 1980s. He died at Collington Life Care Community in Mitchellville in April 1995, after a stroke. He was survived by his wife, Ruth (née Adams) Glennan.
References
- Portions of this article are based on public domain biographical text from NASA.
- ISBN 9780199923342.
- ^ Binder, David (12 April 1995). "T. Keith Glennan, 89, First Chief of Space Agency". The New York Times.