Posted: 6/28/2006 7:22:33 AM EDT
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Textron Systems Division is celebrating their 50th year in business dating back to their origins as a defense textile contractor (making parachutes) as well as AVCO corporation (which developed a huge variety of defense and space systems including the heat shields for the Apollo space program and all the US nuclear missile re-entry vehicles/warheads. Today they are making a variety of high tech munitions, remote ground sensors, guided bombs, the MV22 Osprey, Lycoming aircraft engines and sea systems for the coast guard, and on and on. I was privileged to work on a retrospective book and video production for this celebration and to attend the gala reception and celebration this past week. I have never before been int he presence of so many people who were so PROUD of their contributions to national defense and scientific advancement. Many times, when we wish to feel better about ourselves in comparison to others, we say..."well, they aren't rocket scientists or anything...." That didn't work this time. For that room (actually a huge tent in the parking lot) was FULL of rocket scientists. About 300 or 400 of the smartest, most innovative people in the world...people who invented whole new areas of scientific study and engineering. Obviously I was placed under a fairly strict non-disclosure agreement about much of the information I became privy to during this project, so I won't go beyond what I've already said here, but the stuff that is either in use today or about to go into use is pretty incredible stuff. One of my favorite assignments of this project was to talk to the first president of the AVCO Everett Research Labs, Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz and write a story about him. Dr. Kantrowitz is 93 years old and just retired from the faculty of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Dr. Kantrowitz is still sharp as a razor blade fresh off the polishing line and probably the smartest man I will ever have the privilege to know. His list of personal accomplishments is VAST including pioneering research in heat shielding, energy production, aerospace testing, and intra-aortic ballon pump, developed in partnership with his brother Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz (who is still pioneering in this field and improving upon the original device.) What a great conversation. His opinions on education, engineering, the space program, energy production, etc. were enlightening and inspiring. The environment he inspired at AERL and AVCO as a whole was one of adventurers seeking the limits of technical accomplishment and scientific advancement. Much of that has continued to today. We should all be very happy that these people are out there working for our country. |
