Background
Townsend, John William was born on March 19, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Son of John William and Elenore (Eby) Townsend.
Townsend, John William was born on March 19, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Son of John William and Elenore (Eby) Townsend.
Bachelor, Williams College, 1947; Master of Arts, Williams College, 1949; Doctor of Science, Williams College, 1961.
With, Naval Research Laboratory, 1949-1955;
branch head, Naval Research Laboratory, 1955-1958;
with, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1958-1968;
deputy director Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1965-1968;
deputy administration, Environmental Sciences Services Administration, 1968-1970;
associate administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1970-1977;
president, Fairchild Space and Electronics Company, 1977-1982;
vice president, Fairchild Industries, 1979-1985;
president, Fairchild Space Company, 1983-1985;
senior vice president, Fairchild Industries, 1985-1987;
Chairman of the Board, American Satellite Company, 1985;
senior vice president, executive aerospace group, American Satellite Company, 1987;
executive vice president, American Satellite Company, 1987;
director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, 1987-1990;
retired, 1990. Member United States Rocket, Satellite Research Panel, 1950-1960. Chairman space applications board National Research Council, 1985-1987.
Board directors, trustee Telos Corporation, 1990-1992. Mem.adv. board Loral Corporation, 1990-1992. Member committees National Research Council, since 1990.
Board dirs CTA, Inc.
President town council, Forest Heights, Maryland., 1951-1955. Served with United States Army Air Force, 1943-1946. Fellow American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Meteorological Society.
Member National Academy of Engineering (committee since 1990), American Physical Society, American Geophysical Union. (finance committee since 1991), International Astronautical Federation (member, trustee international, academic astronautics), Sigma Xi.
Married Mary Irene Lewis, February 7, 1948. Children: Bruce Alan, Nancy Dewitt, John William III, Megan Lewis. Married JoAnn C. Clayton, September 17, 1997.