The Grainger College of Engineering

Howard R. Burnett

Howard R. Burnett
Howard R. Burnett
To Howard R. Burnett, for outstanding performance as an engineer and manager, for his participation in the face of extraordinary social and political pressure, in the development of the Polaris and Poseidon strategic missile systems, which serve as the nation's primary retaliatory bulwark for military defense.

Vice President, Assistant General Manager, Fleet Ballistic Missile Program, Missile Systems Division, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Sunnyvale, California

  • BS, Aeronautical Engineering, 1950
  • MS, Aeronautical Engineering, 1952

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. Burnett distinguished himself as a young engineer of high potential in aerodynamics design working for Convair and the Ryan Aeronautical Company in San Diego, California; and also serving on a joint industry-government board to establish airworthiness standards for the then still embryonic commercial jet transports. He moved to Lockheed in 1958 and advanced rapidly through technical and management assignments to his present position that places him in charge of Polaris, Poseidon, and Advanced Fleet Ballistic Missile Programs.

In 1960, as a member of the Polaris Missile SSBN Steering Task Group Missile Committee, he received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding service. He received a second commendation in 1971 for his work on the Poseidon missile project.

Current as of 1974.