Raymond L. Heacock winner of the James Watt International Medal for 1979, was a Caltech engineering graduate who spent his career at The Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he worked on the Ranger program in the 1960s and was The Voyager Project Manager for that program in the 1970s and 80s. He worked at JPL for over 45 years and continued as a consultant even after his retirement.
Background
Born the oldest of nine children to George and Mildred Heacock, He had five children, Two with his first wife Katheryn, Gail Susan, John Allan, and three with his second wife Yvonne, Lisa Ann, David Raymond and Michele Lynn, by whom he is loved so deeply. He is presently married to his wife Yvonne Ann Heacock and they have been married for over fifty years.
Career
Raymond L. Heacock joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1953 after receiving his Master of Science Degree in Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Prior to joining the Voyager Project in 1972 as Spacecraft Systems Manager he had advanced through various positions of responsibility at the Lab. In October of 1977, He was appointed Deputy Manager of the Voyager Project and became Manager the last year. He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the Board of Directors of the Cal-Tech Alumni Association.