Robert A. Frosch
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan Frosch American
scientist, was the fifth Administrator of NASA
from 1977–1981 during the Carter administration
.
. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in theoretical physics at Columbia University
.
Between September 1951 and August 1963, Frosch worked as a research scientist and director of research programs for Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University in Dobbs Ferry, New York
, an organization under contract to the Office of Naval Research
. Until 1953, he worked on problems in underwater sound, sonar
, oceanography
, marine geology
, and marine geophysics. Frosch was first associate and then director of the laboratories, where he managed 300 employees, two ocean-going research vessels, and a $3.5 million annual budget for fundamental research and engineering. During this period he was also Technical Director of Project ARTEMIS
, a very large experimental active sonar system development.
In September 1963, Frosch went to Washington, DC to work with the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in the U.S. Department of Defense
, serving as Director for Nuclear Test Detection (Project VELA
), and then as deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, sharing responsibility for managing a $270 million per year program of research and development. In July 1966 he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development, responsible for all Navy programs of research, development, engineering, test and evaluation averaging $2.5 billion annually. From January 1973 to July 1975, Frosch served as Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Program. With the rank of Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, he was responsible for substantive global program activities of the United Nations system and other international activities related to environment matters.
While at NASA, Frosch was responsible for overseeing the continuation of the development effort on the Space Shuttle
program. During his tenure, the project underwent testing of the first orbiter, Enterprise
, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
in southern California
.
Frosch left NASA with the change of administrations in January 1981 to become vice president for research at the General Motors Research Laboratories. He is still active in scientific and technical policy activities; he is currently (2/2006) Senior Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and a Guest Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientist, was the fifth Administrator of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
from 1977–1981 during the Carter administration
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
.
Biography
Born in New York City, Frosch was educated in the public school system in The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in theoretical physics at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Between September 1951 and August 1963, Frosch worked as a research scientist and director of research programs for Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University in Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
, an organization under contract to the Office of Naval Research
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
. Until 1953, he worked on problems in underwater sound, sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
, oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
, marine geology
Marine geology
Marine geology or geological oceanography involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal margins...
, and marine geophysics. Frosch was first associate and then director of the laboratories, where he managed 300 employees, two ocean-going research vessels, and a $3.5 million annual budget for fundamental research and engineering. During this period he was also Technical Director of Project ARTEMIS
Project ARTEMIS
Project ARTEMIS was a project undertaken by the United States Navy in the 1960s, which produced a Low Frequency Active Sonar system that could detect submarines at long range. Robert A. Frosch, in his capacity as Technical Director of Hudson Laboratories , was Technical Director of the project. Dr....
, a very large experimental active sonar system development.
In September 1963, Frosch went to Washington, DC to work with the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in the U.S. Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, serving as Director for Nuclear Test Detection (Project VELA
Project Vela
Project Vela was a project by the United States to develop and implement methods to monitor compliance with the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty. The development work was primarily performed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency and was overseen by the United States Air Force.Project Vela consisted...
), and then as deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, sharing responsibility for managing a $270 million per year program of research and development. In July 1966 he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development, responsible for all Navy programs of research, development, engineering, test and evaluation averaging $2.5 billion annually. From January 1973 to July 1975, Frosch served as Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Program. With the rank of Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, he was responsible for substantive global program activities of the United Nations system and other international activities related to environment matters.
While at NASA, Frosch was responsible for overseeing the continuation of the development effort on the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
program. During his tenure, the project underwent testing of the first orbiter, Enterprise
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle orbiter. It was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform test flights in the atmosphere. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of spaceflight...
, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Center
The Dryden Flight Research Center , located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Hugh L. Dryden, a prominent aeronautical engineer who at the time of his death in 1965 was NASA's deputy administrator...
in southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Frosch left NASA with the change of administrations in January 1981 to become vice president for research at the General Motors Research Laboratories. He is still active in scientific and technical policy activities; he is currently (2/2006) Senior Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and a Guest Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.