David E. Mann
Encyclopedia
David E. Mann was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering and Systems) from 1977 to 1981.
on November 4, 1924. He was educated at the City University of New York
, receiving his B.S. in 1944. He did his graduate work at the University of Chicago
, receiving first an M.S. and then a Ph.D.
in Chemistry
in 1948. He then did postdoctoral research in molecular spectroscopy
at the University of Minnesota
and Harvard University
.
In 1951, Mann joined the National Bureau of Standards as a physicist
and as Chief of the Molecular Spectroscopy section. He took a sabbatical in 1956-57, having won a Fulbright Scholarship and a Guggenheim Fellowship
. He then returned to the National Bureau of Standards, working there until 1965. During this time, he became well known for his research in the application of cryospectroscopy to the determination of the molecular structures of high–temperature and unstable molecules.
Mann joined the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1966, and in 1967 became Deputy Director of its Ballistics
Missile Defense
Office. He became head of its Strategic Technology Office in 1968; there, he began development programs in high energy lasers, long–range infrared and radar sensor
s, special communications techniques, and a wide range of undersea and AS W sensor
technology. For this work, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
in 1974.
He joined the United States Department of the Navy
in 1973 as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
for Navy Advanced Systems Projects.
On March 21, 1977, President of the United States
Jimmy Carter
nominated Mann as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering and Systems), and Mann went on to hold this office from April 1977 until January 1981. As Assistant Secretary, he oversaw the development of advanced antisubmarine warfare systems.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering and Systems) from 1977 to 1981.
Biography
David E. Mann was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on November 4, 1924. He was educated at the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, receiving his B.S. in 1944. He did his graduate work at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, receiving first an M.S. and then a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1948. He then did postdoctoral research in molecular spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
In 1951, Mann joined the National Bureau of Standards as a physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and as Chief of the Molecular Spectroscopy section. He took a sabbatical in 1956-57, having won a Fulbright Scholarship and a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
. He then returned to the National Bureau of Standards, working there until 1965. During this time, he became well known for his research in the application of cryospectroscopy to the determination of the molecular structures of high–temperature and unstable molecules.
Mann joined the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1966, and in 1967 became Deputy Director of its Ballistics
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
Missile Defense
Missile defense
Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception and destruction of attacking missiles. Originally conceived as a defence against nuclear-armed Intercontinental ballistic missiles , its application has broadened to include shorter-ranged...
Office. He became head of its Strategic Technology Office in 1968; there, he began development programs in high energy lasers, long–range infrared and radar sensor
Radar sensor
Radar engineering details are technical details pertaining to the components of a radar and their ability to detect the return energy from moving scatterers — determining an object's position or obstruction in the environment. This include field of view in terms of solid angle and maximum...
s, special communications techniques, and a wide range of undersea and AS W sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
technology. For this work, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
The Meritorious Civilian Service Award is commonly the second highest award and medal provided to civilian employees within agencies of the federal government of the United States...
in 1974.
He joined the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
in 1973 as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
for Navy Advanced Systems Projects.
On March 21, 1977, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Mann as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering and Systems), and Mann went on to hold this office from April 1977 until January 1981. As Assistant Secretary, he oversaw the development of advanced antisubmarine warfare systems.