D. Brainerd Holmes
D. Brainerd Holmes studied engineering at Cornell University, receiving a degree in electrical engineering. He first worked for Bell Labs and Western Electric, then moved to RCA, becoming heavily involved in military contracting with that firm. He helped to develop the Talos antiaircraft missile, and the electronic heart of the Atlas missile. He was part of the team that developed the US Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, and was therefore highly visible in government circles. In 1961, in response to the Cold War fears that had been fueled by the October 1957 Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite, US President John F. Kennedy had publicly vowed that his government would put a man on the moon, and safely return him to Earth, before the end of the decade. Holmes was hired to get it done.
During his two-year tenure, he oversaw the Mercury program and planning for Project Gemini and the Apollo program. Possibly due to tensions with NASA Administrator James E. Webb over the extent of his authority to shape and schedule the various facets of the space program, he resigned in 1963 to become an executive at Raytheon. At that company he is credited with helping develop several of that company's missile developments, including the Patriot antiballistic system. From left to right are Elliot See, Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra, John Glenn, Brainerd Holmes, Wernher von Braun, and Jim Lovell in 1962. The image captures a pivotal moment when American astronauts and engineers stood ready to execute complex missions under his direction.
NASA official Robert R. Gilruth compiled a history of that administration during his tenure. Gilruth had worked hard to persuade Holmes of the merit of a lunar-orbit rendezvous as part of the Moon-landing project, and he wrote of this time that the project's success owed much to Holmes' management-team approach, in which NASA officials argued out their different opinions before a course was set. He wrote, A less skillful leader might have forced an early arbitrary decision that would have made the whole task of getting to the Moon virtually impossible. This collaborative style contrasted sharply with the rigid command structure often seen elsewhere in government operations.
At Raytheon, Holmes became a top executive, and was its president when it developed the Patriot missile in the 1970s. He also served as chairman of the Beech Aircraft Corporation after it was acquired by Raytheon in 1979. Elmer Engstrom, the company president at RCA, told an interviewer, The problem with systems engineering is to find people with a special knack for marrying men, machines, tactics and everything else into one large system. We could see right away that Holmes had the knack. His leadership extended beyond spaceflight into critical defense technologies that shaped national security strategies for decades.
Holmes' leadership in the space program was highlighted by Time magazine in 1962, wherein he was quoted: When a great nation is faced with a technological challenge, it has to accept or go backward. Space is the future of man, and the US must keep ahead in space. Holmes was featured on the 10th of August 1962 cover of Time magazine, featuring the series Reaching For The Moon. These appearances brought his vision to the public eye during a time of intense global competition and technological uncertainty.
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Common questions
What engineering degree did D. Brainerd Holmes receive from Cornell University?
D. Brainerd Holmes received a degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University. He subsequently worked for Bell Labs and Western Electric before moving to RCA.
When did D. Brainerd Holmes resign from NASA to join Raytheon?
D. Brainerd Holmes resigned from his position at NASA in 1963. He left due to tensions with NASA Administrator James E. Webb regarding the extent of his authority over the space program.
Which missile systems did D. Brainerd Holmes help develop during his career?
D. Brainerd Holmes helped develop the Talos antiaircraft missile, the electronic heart of the Atlas missile, and the Patriot antiballistic system. He also contributed to the US Ballistic Missile Early Warning System while working for government contractors.
Who was the president of RCA when they hired D. Brainerd Holmes?
Elmer Engstrom served as the company president at RCA when they hired D. Brainerd Holmes. Engstrom noted that Holmes possessed a special knack for marrying men, machines, tactics, and everything else into one large system.
What date appeared on the Time magazine cover featuring D. Brainerd Holmes?
The 10th of August 1962 marked the publication date of the Time magazine cover featuring D. Brainerd Holmes. The issue featured the series Reaching For The Moon and highlighted his leadership in the space program.