Goetz Oertel
Encyclopedia
Goetz Oertel is a German–American physicist
and science manager in the United States.
with his parents, milling director Egon Oertel and his wife Margarete (born as Wittek) westwards, initially to Gransee in Brandenburg, then continuing to Triptis in Thuringia which was captured by US forces rather than the Soviets. When Thuringia fell under Soviet control in the course of the Potsdam agreements, the flight continued by horse and carriage, further westwards to Oehringen in southwestern Wurttemberg. Goetz’s father was able to support the family through his hobby, genealogy.
, and got a position as physics research associate at the University of Maryland
. He married Brigitte Beckmann in 1960, and became neighbor as well as friends with Karl-Ludwig Stellmacher, a German – American mathematician.
After his successful PhD promotion he was hir of German ed by NASA
in January 1963 at their Langley Research Center
as a researcher. The agency promoted his naturalization to US citizenship and provided him with responsibility over a current research project. He had to convince the NASA and General Electric
engineers that the project was unviable and had to be restructured substantially. At the same time, his experimental research results from his PhD thesis became published and resulted in the application for two patents.
, consequentially becoming responsible for continuously increasing roles and functions, and finally was promoted Chief of Solar Physics, he had to come to an end with his experimental work, albeit successfully.
. New positions at the Savannah River Site
in South Carolina
in Albuquerque brought responsibilities for 32,000 employees and an overall budget of USD 3 billion.
space shuttle accident and the Chernobyl
catastrophe, the appointment to President and Chief Executive of AURA came at a suitable moment. AURA operated the Hubble Space Telescope
, space- and solar observatories in Arizona, New Mexico and Chile, and, more recently, also the Gemini Observatory
s in Hawaii and Chile. After thirteen successful years at this position, Oertel finally declined a five year renewal of his contract
-Price. Finally, the International Astronomic Union baptized an asteroid
after him: goetzoertel (5074).
in Washington D. C.
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 science manager in the United States.
Flight from West Prussia
In January 1945, Oertel escaped from the advancing Red ArmyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
with his parents, milling director Egon Oertel and his wife Margarete (born as Wittek) westwards, initially to Gransee in Brandenburg, then continuing to Triptis in Thuringia which was captured by US forces rather than the Soviets. When Thuringia fell under Soviet control in the course of the Potsdam agreements, the flight continued by horse and carriage, further westwards to Oehringen in southwestern Wurttemberg. Goetz’s father was able to support the family through his hobby, genealogy.
School and University
After the Abitur (A-levels) at the Robert-Mayer-High School in Heilbronn and first work experiences in the private economy at the energy corporation AEG in Stuttgart, Oertel commenced his studies of physics at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel in 1953. A son of a member of the Corps (student fraternity) Masovia, he equally sought membership in the Kiel Corps Palaiomarchia-Masovia, where he sustained in four fencing duels.Physicist in the USA
Goetz followed his supervisor of his doctoral thesis to the US in 1957 with a Fulbright stipendFulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
, and got a position as physics research associate at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
. He married Brigitte Beckmann in 1960, and became neighbor as well as friends with Karl-Ludwig Stellmacher, a German – American mathematician.
After his successful PhD promotion he was hir of German ed by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in January 1963 at their Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center is the oldest of NASA's field centers, located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It directly borders Poquoson, Virginia and Langley Air Force Base...
as a researcher. The agency promoted his naturalization to US citizenship and provided him with responsibility over a current research project. He had to convince the NASA and General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
engineers that the project was unviable and had to be restructured substantially. At the same time, his experimental research results from his PhD thesis became published and resulted in the application for two patents.
Solar physics
In 1967 the NASA HQ offered Goetz Oertel a senior position in Washington DC and thus enabled a continuation of his theoretical work. When he was finally named leader of the program of the ATM of SkylabSkylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
, consequentially becoming responsible for continuously increasing roles and functions, and finally was promoted Chief of Solar Physics, he had to come to an end with his experimental work, albeit successfully.
Nuclear Energy
In 1974 the Nixon administration drafted its Federal Executive Development Program, with the goal to reduce the isolation of the Federal ministries, specifically among the higher level civil servants, the so-called super-grades. As a consequence, management skills gained a higher weight than the academic knowledge of the subject matter. Around 8.000 mid-level civil servants had to apply for 25 positions. Oertel applied successfully and was offered „free choice“ among the Federal ministries. After the introduction course in Charlottesville (South Carolina) he became, for six months each, scientific advisor to the President and at the Office of Management and Budget of the President’s Office – Department for Space, Science and Energy. In 1975 he was appointed Head of the Astronomy Program at the Ministry of Science, and in 1976 Chief of Staff of the Assistant Administrator for nuclear energy. From 1977 to 1984 he served as director for nuclear energy facilities (including nuclear waste- and secondary products of the defense sector) in the newly created Ministry of EnergyMinistry of Energy
The Ministry of Energy is a small department which provides advice to a Government in some countries:* Ministry of Energy * Ministry of Energy * Ministry of Energy * Ministry of Fuel and Energy...
. New positions at the Savannah River Site
Savannah River Site
The Savannah River Site is a nuclear reservation in the United States in the state of South Carolina, located on land in Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell Counties adjacent to the Savannah River, southeast of Augusta, Georgia. The site was built during the 1950s to refine nuclear materials for...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in Albuquerque brought responsibilities for 32,000 employees and an overall budget of USD 3 billion.
Astronomy
Goetz Oertel returned to the Ministry of Energy in 1985 as deputy assistant. Dealing with the consequences of the ChallengerChallenger
-Land vehicles:* Challenger trucks, a Canadian maker of heavy trucks* One of several British Army tanks:** Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger, in service during World War II** Challenger 1 tank, in service from the late 1980s to early 21st century...
space shuttle accident and the Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl or Chornobyl is an abandoned city in northern Ukraine, in Kiev Oblast, near the border with Belarus. The city had been the administrative centre of the Chernobyl Raion since 1932....
catastrophe, the appointment to President and Chief Executive of AURA came at a suitable moment. AURA operated the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
, space- and solar observatories in Arizona, New Mexico and Chile, and, more recently, also the Gemini Observatory
Gemini Observatory
The Gemini Observatory is an astronomical observatory consisting of two telescopes at sites in Hawai‘i and Chile. Together, the twin Gemini telescopes provide almost complete coverage of both the northern and southern skies...
s in Hawaii and Chile. After thirteen successful years at this position, Oertel finally declined a five year renewal of his contract
Honorations
Goetz Oertel remains an active member of The National Academy of Sciences, and continues his work for various foundations and universities, as well as for ministries of science in North- and South America. The National Academies elected him as Associate for life. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers honored him with the Dixy Lee RayDixy Lee Ray
Dixy Lee Ray was the 17th Governor of the U.S. State of Washington. She was Washington's first female governor.-Early years:...
-Price. Finally, the International Astronomic Union baptized an asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
after him: goetzoertel (5074).
Private life
Goetz Oertel and his wife have one daughter and one son. He is a member of the Corps Masovia and Palaiomarchia. He is an active member of the Cosmos ClubCosmos Club
The Cosmos Club is a private social club in Washington, D.C., founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878. In addition to Powell, original members included Clarence Edward Dutton, Henry Smith Pritchett, William Harkness, and John Shaw Billings. Among its stated goals is "The advancement of its members in...
in Washington D. C.