Reflections of a Technocrat: Managing Defense, Air, and Space Programs during the Cold War, National Reconnaissance and NRO, Commercial Space Programs, Comsat

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, Aeronautics & Astronautics, Science, Physics, Astrophysics & Space Science
Cover of the book Reflections of a Technocrat: Managing Defense, Air, and Space Programs during the Cold War, National Reconnaissance and NRO, Commercial Space Programs, Comsat by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781476290553
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: March 20, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781476290553
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: March 20, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

From the Introduction: Reflections of a Technocrat is an autobiography that ends as a biography. John McLucas died on the first of December 2002, at the age of 82, with all but the last chapter remaining to be started. He had been preparing to do a memoir, on and off, for many years, but only in the late 1990s, as declining health caused him to cut back on other commitments, did he devote a large part of his energies to getting the job done. To help complete this project, he engaged me — Ken Alnwick — a retired Air Force pilot and defense analyst, and my associate, Larry Benson, a recently retired Air Force historian.

His career choices led him into a wider variety of scientific, technical, and defense management positions than almost any of his contemporaries. In the field of aviation, for example, John was the only person to have held the positions of both secretary of the Air Force and administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. As someone who had a great respect for history, he wanted to add to the record of what had transpired during his tenure in these and other important positions and to share his perspectives on what it meant to lead technology-oriented organizations. He was also a staunch advocate for the peaceful and unifying aspects of space endeavors and saw this book as another venue to espouse this cause, which had engaged him for over two decades and been the theme of his previous book, Space Commerce.

John McLucas accrued almost 50 years' experience on both sides of the government procurement table. From that perspective, he also hoped to analyze various acquisition strategies, such as the value of prototyping (which he had employed with great success to bring the A-10 and F-16 aircraft to fruition) and a willingness to accept risks when appropriate. As preparations for the book proceeded, he conducted numerous interviews with senior active duty and retired defense officials on the subject of acquisition reform. He was never quite able, however, to coalesce this research into a more comprehensive theory for the defense acquisition process beyond his passionate support for competitive "fly-offs" of major weapon systems and for reinvigorating the roles of the service secretaries and their military chiefs as a counterpoint to what he saw as an unhealthy concentration of power in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Contents: Chapter 1 - From Country Boy to Company President * Chapter 2 - Career Broadening in Science and Technology * Chapter 3 - My Air Force Years People and Politics * Chapter 4 - Modernizing the Force - New Systems for Future Air Supremacy * Chapter 5 - What Can Now Be Told - The National Reconnaissance and Air Force Space Programs * Chapter 6 - Facing Other Issues—Overseas and at Home * Chapter 7 - Managing Civil Aviation and Commercial Space Programs * Chapter 8 - Promoting Space, Science, and Technology

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

From the Introduction: Reflections of a Technocrat is an autobiography that ends as a biography. John McLucas died on the first of December 2002, at the age of 82, with all but the last chapter remaining to be started. He had been preparing to do a memoir, on and off, for many years, but only in the late 1990s, as declining health caused him to cut back on other commitments, did he devote a large part of his energies to getting the job done. To help complete this project, he engaged me — Ken Alnwick — a retired Air Force pilot and defense analyst, and my associate, Larry Benson, a recently retired Air Force historian.

His career choices led him into a wider variety of scientific, technical, and defense management positions than almost any of his contemporaries. In the field of aviation, for example, John was the only person to have held the positions of both secretary of the Air Force and administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. As someone who had a great respect for history, he wanted to add to the record of what had transpired during his tenure in these and other important positions and to share his perspectives on what it meant to lead technology-oriented organizations. He was also a staunch advocate for the peaceful and unifying aspects of space endeavors and saw this book as another venue to espouse this cause, which had engaged him for over two decades and been the theme of his previous book, Space Commerce.

John McLucas accrued almost 50 years' experience on both sides of the government procurement table. From that perspective, he also hoped to analyze various acquisition strategies, such as the value of prototyping (which he had employed with great success to bring the A-10 and F-16 aircraft to fruition) and a willingness to accept risks when appropriate. As preparations for the book proceeded, he conducted numerous interviews with senior active duty and retired defense officials on the subject of acquisition reform. He was never quite able, however, to coalesce this research into a more comprehensive theory for the defense acquisition process beyond his passionate support for competitive "fly-offs" of major weapon systems and for reinvigorating the roles of the service secretaries and their military chiefs as a counterpoint to what he saw as an unhealthy concentration of power in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Contents: Chapter 1 - From Country Boy to Company President * Chapter 2 - Career Broadening in Science and Technology * Chapter 3 - My Air Force Years People and Politics * Chapter 4 - Modernizing the Force - New Systems for Future Air Supremacy * Chapter 5 - What Can Now Be Told - The National Reconnaissance and Air Force Space Programs * Chapter 6 - Facing Other Issues—Overseas and at Home * Chapter 7 - Managing Civil Aviation and Commercial Space Programs * Chapter 8 - Promoting Space, Science, and Technology

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: 2011 U.S. Coast Guard Report of the Investigation into the Explosion, Fire, and Sinking aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (April 20, 2010) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book FBI Report: The FBI - A Centennial History, 1908-2008, From Gangsters to Terrorism, J. Edgar Hoover, Mississippi Burning, Kennedy and King Assassinations, James Earl Ray, Atom Bomb Spies, Cold War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Apollo and America's Moon Landing Program: NASA's Management of Moon Rocks and Other Astromaterials Loaned for Research, Education, and Public Display (NASA Inspector General Report 2011) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Naval Air Reserve History- Aviation Cadet Program, World War II, Props to Jets, Squantum, Grenada and Lebanon, Weekend Warriors by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Emergency Planning (IS-235.b) - December 2011 Guide for Emergency Management Personnel in Developing Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Military Police Operations Field Manual - FM 3-19.1, FM 19-1 (Value-Added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book New Navy Fighting Machine in the South China Sea - How American Surface Combatants Can Defeat PLAN, People's Republic of China (PRC) Navy, Aegis, Airships, Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Space Shuttle NASA Mission Reports: 1996 Missions, STS-72, STS-75, STS-76, STS-77, STS-78, STS-79, STS-80 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Instrument Flight for Army Aviators - Field Manual 3-04.240 (FM 1-240) Part 2 - Techniques for Instrument Flying and Air Navigation, Weather, Emergency Operations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Dangerous Ground: The Spratly Islands and U.S. Interests and Approaches - South China Sea, Law of the Sea Convention, UNCLOS, Claims by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, ASEAN by Progressive Management
Cover of the book America's Civil War: The Vicksburg Campaign: November 1862 - July 1863, The Chancellorsville Campaign: January - May 1863, Army Military History of the War Between the States by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Drivers Behind the People's Republic of China's Port Investments: Cases in Darwin, Australia and Hambantota, Sri Lanka - Primary Reason for Chinese Leases is Domestic Economics and International Trade by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Air Force (USAF) Judge Advocate General (JAG): Overview and History, Judge Advocate General's Corps Year in Review, Legal Services for the 21st Century by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Radiological Emergency Management Independent Study Course (IS-3), Radiation, Radioactivity, Nuclear Power Plant Accidents, Detonation, Biological Effects, Protective Actions by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: The Army Field Manual (FM 1) The Soldier's Creed, The Army and the Profession of Arms, Army Organization (Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy