F. Robert Naka

Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient

Institute of Technology, October 15, 2004

F. Robert Naka received his M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1945 and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1951. For more than fifty years, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership in science and technology for national defense and security. He has been a pioneer in the technological development of space radar, space communications, space command and control, and active and passive sensors. In 1969, he moved to Washington D.C. as the Deputy Undersecretary of Air Force for Space Systems. He led the development of a major imagery satellite. These contributions were critical to national security during the Cold War. He later was appointed as the twentieth Chief Scientist of the Air Force. Following his service in the government, he returned to industry where he served as the corporate vice president for Science Applications International Corp. and GTE Government Systems Corp. He has served on numerous boards and councils including NASA Space Program Advisory Council, Trustee of the Aerospace Corp., U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and consultant to the Institute for Defense Analysis. He has been the President and CEO of CERA Inc. since 1988. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and has received the U.S. Air Force Exceptional Service Medal three times.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.