Eberhardt Rechtin, RIP

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_3725423

Article Launched: 4/19/2006 12:00 AM
Space trailblazer Rechtin dies
Pasadena Star-News
[EXCERPT]

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - Eberhardt Rechtin, a pioneer in deep space
research and former assistant director of the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, died Friday after a long illness. He was 80.

In the early years of the United States space race with the Soviet
Union, Rechtin was a key player in putting together JPL's Deep Space
Network, which tracks objects in Earth's orbit and beyond.

Rechtin helped create the Goldstone tracking dishes in the Mojave
Desert, as well as similar projects in Australia and South Africa,
responsible for providing the tracking, telemetry, and command for all
space flight from the Ranger program onward.

In 1967, Rechtin was named director of the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA), the Department of Defense's laboratory for new
technology. While at the DoD, Rechtin was also named principal deputy
director of research and engineering, then assistant secretary of
defense for telecommunications.

In 1973, Rechtin left the DoD to become chief engineer of
Hewlett-Packard Corp.

After four years in the private sector, Rechtin became CEO of The
Aerospace Corp., the El Segundo-based nonprofit corporation that
provides engineering and architectural services for the Air Force's
space program.

During Rechtin's tenure, Aerospace placed the first GPS satellites in
orbit, was involved in the Strategic Defense Initiative and was
instrumental in testing the first anti-satellite weaponry. In that era,
Aerospace sales nearly tripled, rising to $323 million in 1986 from
$126 million in 1977. Under Rechtin, Aerospace also made major strides
in advancing the roles of minority and women engineers.

After he retired from Aerospace, Rechtin focused on engineering theory.
He became a professor at USC, teaching graduate students the concept of
systems involved in large-scale engineering projects. Rechtin's vision
of systems architecting is now taught worldwide. He retired from USC in
1994 as professor emeritus.

Rechtin authored several books: "Looking Ahead 1977-1987"; "Systems
Architecting: The Creating and Building of Complex Systems"; "The Art
of Systems Architecting" and "The Architecting of Organizations: Why
Eagles Can't Swim."

During his career, Rechtin was the recipient of numerous awards from
professional organizations, including the National Academy of
Engineering, the Institute of Radio Engineers, American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics (von Karman lectureship and Robert H.
Goddard Award), the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, the International Council on Systems Engineering, Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (the Alexander Graham Bell Award),
Department of Defense, the NASA medal for exceptional scientific
achievement and a Caltech distinguished alumni award. He was awarded an
honorary doctorate from USC in 2005.

Rechtin received his B.S. with honors and Ph.D. degrees in electrical
engineering from Caltech in 1946 and 1950, respectively. Born in
Orange, N.J., Rechtin grew up in Palos Verdes and attended Redondo
Union High School.