Dr. Hans Mark, director of Defense Research and Engineering for the U.S. Department of Defense and a professor of aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, has received an American Helicopter Society Fellow Award. This award is given to society members whose work toward the interests of the American Helicopter Society constitutes an outstanding lifetime achievement.
The American Helicopter Society is an organization of professionals interested in advancing the research, development and application of vertical flight aircraft.
Mark began his life of achievements directing the NASA-Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., where he oversaw the “Pioneer” planetary exploration program. In 1977, he was appointed Undersecretary of the Air Force and Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, which designs, builds and operates the nation's reconnaissance satellites. Two years later, he was promoted to Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, where he initiated the U.S. Air Force Space Command (now the U.S. Space Command). Dr. Mark was deputy administrator of NASA, where he oversaw the first 14 space shuttle flights and helped to initiate the establishment of the U.S. Space Station Program. He was chancellor of the UT System from 1984-1992, joining UT to teach in 1988
Since July 1998, Mark has served as the chief technical adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology on defense research, development, testing, and evaluation. For the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which aims to reduce the threat to the United States and its allies from nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional and special weapons, he is responsible for developing policies, providing guidance, and managing atomic energy, chemical, and biological defense plans and programs. He has management oversight for the Defense Advanced Research Agency, the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense, and the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
Dr. Mark, currently on leave from UT, has held the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in Engineering since 1992.
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