Joseph G. Gavin Jr Explained

Joseph G. Gavin Jr. (September 18, 1920 – October 30, 2010) was an American engineer responsible for the development of the Apollo Lunar Module used in the Apollo program, as well as president, chief operating officer and chairman of the executive committee of the Grumman Corporation.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} Gavin was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1974 "for leadership in the design and the production of the Apollo Lunar Module".^[4] Gavin was director of the Lunar Module program for Apollo.^[5] In that capacity he managed a team of 7,500 people that oversaw landing of the lunar module on the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon, on July 20, 1969.^[1] Gavin was also critical to saving Apollo 13 mission.^{[1] [5]} Gavin received NASA's Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1971 for his role in resolving the Apollo 13 crisis.^{[1] [7]} Gavin was also in charge of development of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory at Grumman.^[4] Neil Armstrong (landed on the Moon) called Gavin "highly regarded aerospace engineer".^[4]

Chronology

• • 1920: born on September 18 in Somerville, Massachusetts 1937: graduated Boston Latin School
• 1941: B.S. in aeronautical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1942: M.S. in aeronautical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1942–1946: officer with U.S. Navy
• 1946–1985: career with Grumman
  • 1946: joined Grumman, a design engineer
  • 1957: chief missile and space engineer at Grumman, in charge of development of Orbiting Astronomical Observatory
  • 1962-1972: Vice President and Director, Lunar Module Program, Project Apollo
  • 1974: elected to the National Academy of Engineering
  • 1976: president and Chief Operating Officer of Grumman
  • 1985: retirement from Grumman
• 2010: died on October 30

Notes and References

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/business/04gavin.html New York Times:Joseph Gavin, Who Helped Put First Man on Moon, Dies at 90;By DOUGLAS MARTIN;Published: November 4, 2010
2. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/obit-gavin.html MIT News:Aerospace engineer Joseph Gavin '41, SM '42 dies at 90;Former president of Grumman Aircraft led Lunar Module development for NASA, aided in the rescue of Apollo 13;David L. Chandler, MIT News Office
3. http://mitworld.mit.edu/speaker/view/1147 MIT World Speakers;gavin joseph;Joseph Gavin '41, SM'42;NASA web page on history with Grumman and Gavin
4. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13160&page=111 Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 15 (2011);Joseph G. Gavin Jr.;by Neil Armstrong
5. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/joseph-gavin-aerospace-engineer-who-played-an-integral-part-in-the-first-moon-landing-2173400.html The Independent:Joseph Gavin: Aerospace engineer who played an integral part in the first moon landing
6. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-joseph-gavin-20101103-story.html Los Angeles Times:Joseph Gavin dies at 90; former head of aerospace company Grumman;He headed its Apollo lunar module program in the 1960s and was president of the New York company from 1972 to 1985.November 03, 2010
7. Engineering a Vehicle for Another World. Wright. Rebecca. Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly. 16. 4. 2009. 1065-7738.