Background
Smith, RICHARD was born on January 5, 1929 in Blackfoot, Idaho, United States.
Smith, RICHARD was born on January 5, 1929 in Blackfoot, Idaho, United States.
University of Idaho (Bachelor of Arts, 1950. Bachelor of Laws, 1958). University of California at Berkeley (Master of Arts, 1956).
Phi Alpha Delta.
City Attorney, Declo, Idaho, since 1961. Prosecuting Attorney, Cassia County, Idaho, 1963-1966.
He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn in 1951. He transferred to National Aeronautics and Space Administration in July 1960 when the Development Operations Division of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency became the nucleus for the establishment of the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Smith served in positions of increasing responsibility at the Marshall Center.
He held various assignments in the former Guidance and Control Laboratory and in the Systems Engineering Office prior to being appointed deputy manager and later manager of the Saturn Program.
In January 1974 Smith became director of science and engineering and served in that position until he was named deputy director of the Marshall Center in 1974. He served as director of the Skylab Task Force appointed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration administrator to represent National Aeronautics and Space Administration preceding and following the reentry of Skylab.
In September 1980 he was awarded the rank of meritorious executive in the Senior Executive Service. In June 1981, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree by Florida Institute of Technology.
He was also awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree by his Alma Mater, Auburn University, on December 9, 1983.
Smith’s administration covered the completion of the Space Shuttle buildup, the launch of 25 shuttle missions and the beginning of the planning effort for the Space Station. Smith retired on August
Smith became a member of the rocket research and development team at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, in June 1951. Smith was a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Executive Development Education Panel, and he also served a three-year term as a member of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council.