Background
Edward Fister was born to William Franklin Fister and Hannah Dugan Fister.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Edward Fister
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated from Villanova University in 1937 with a bachelor"s degree in electrical engineering.
Career
He died at home in New Jersey on February 8, 2003. He was a pioneer in the development of radar, worked on the electrification of the GG-1 (the worlds fastest engine), and worked on the rocket and bomb proximity fuse. He was their only surviving child.
He was awarded the Villanova Alumni Meda
He also was awarded the Westinghouse Science Award. His first job was with the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona, Pennsylvania on the electrification project to support the world"s fastest engine, the GG-1.
After briefly working with the Atlantic City Electric Company, he began to work in 1940 with the Signal Corps in the pre-war years. He eventually became Director of Development at the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories(called CECOM now).
He had worked there for 34 years when he retired in 1974.
He worked diligently on the then-new and revolutionary invention, radar. Mr Fister was responsible for making the inventions of the laboratory and theoretical breakthroughs come to life and onto the battlefield. The War Department awarded him the Commendation for Meritorious Civilian Service and the Citation reads: Foreign outstanding performance of assigned tasks and for initiative in directing and expediting engineering work performed by the Signal Corps on the rocket and bomb proximity fuse." signed by Major General hockey club Engles, Chief Signal Office.
Achievements
-
His work on this was inconceivably important, considering that radar was what helped England win the Battle of Britain. He was also Officially commended for "A special act in recognition of the outstanding accomplishment of a special one-time assignment received from the Commanding General, United States Army Electronics Command, to "expedite and facilitate the USAECOM accomplishment of the FY-66 and prior fiscal year Electronic Warfare program" The assignment was outside the normal sphere of the employee"s responsibility but, nevertheless, was performed with the highest degree of knowledgeability, competence, and urgency, and resulted in expressions of appreciation from the Commanding General, USAECOM, and the Commanding General, United States. Army Security Agency." January 16, 1967 signed by W. B. Latta Major General, United States of America, Commanding United States Army Electronics Command Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
