Lawrence A. Hyland
Encyclopedia
Lawrence A. "Pat" Hyland (August 26, 1897 - November 24, 1989) was an American
electrical engineer. He is one of several people credited with major contributions to the invention of radar
, but is probably best known as the man who transformed Hughes Aircraft
from Howard Hughes'
aviation "hobby shop" into one of the world's leading technology companies.
Hyland was born in Nova Scotia
, Canada
but his family moved to the U.S. in 1899, where he was raised in Massachusetts
. He served in the U.S. Army
during World War I
, and then in the U.S. Navy
until 1926. Hyland then joined the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as a radio engineer. While at NRL he first demonstrated the reflection of radio waves from aircraft, and also made other contributions to the development of doppler radar
.
In 1932 Hyland founded the Radio Research Company, which would later be merged into the Bendix Corporation
; he eventually became Vice President for Research and Engineering at Bendix.
In 1954 Hyland was hired as Vice President and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft
; he would ultimately become company President and CEO after Howard Hughes' death in 1976. Under Hyland's guidance, Hughes Aircraft continued to diversify and become immensely profitable. Among other accomplishments, the company developed numerous radar systems, electro-optical systems, the first working laser
, aircraft computer systems, missile
systems, spacecraft
, and many other advanced technologies. Hyland retired from active service in 1980, but he retained close contact with the company until his death.
During his lifetime Hyland frequently advised the U.S. government on science and technology. At various times he served as a senior consultant to the President's Science Advisory Committee
, the Atomic Energy Commission
, and the Central Intelligence Agency
; and he was a member of the Defense Industry Advisory Council.
Pat Hyland's honors and awards include:
Hyland's autobiography
, Call Me Pat: The Autobiography of the Man Howard Hughes Chose to Lead Hughes Aircraft, was published posthumously in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electrical engineer. He is one of several people credited with major contributions to the invention of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, but is probably best known as the man who transformed Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
from Howard Hughes'
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
aviation "hobby shop" into one of the world's leading technology companies.
Hyland was born in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
but his family moved to the U.S. in 1899, where he was raised in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and then in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
until 1926. Hyland then joined the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as a radio engineer. While at NRL he first demonstrated the reflection of radio waves from aircraft, and also made other contributions to the development of doppler radar
Doppler radar
A Doppler radar is a specialized radar that makes use of the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance. It does this by beaming a microwave signal towards a desired target and listening for its reflection, then analyzing how the frequency of the returned signal has been...
.
In 1932 Hyland founded the Radio Research Company, which would later be merged into the Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
; he eventually became Vice President for Research and Engineering at Bendix.
In 1954 Hyland was hired as Vice President and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
; he would ultimately become company President and CEO after Howard Hughes' death in 1976. Under Hyland's guidance, Hughes Aircraft continued to diversify and become immensely profitable. Among other accomplishments, the company developed numerous radar systems, electro-optical systems, the first working laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
, aircraft computer systems, missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
systems, spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
, and many other advanced technologies. Hyland retired from active service in 1980, but he retained close contact with the company until his death.
During his lifetime Hyland frequently advised the U.S. government on science and technology. At various times he served as a senior consultant to the President's Science Advisory Committee
President's Science Advisory Committee
In 1951 President of the United States Harry S. Truman established the Science Advisory Committee as part of the Office of Defense Mobilization . As a direct response to the launches of the Soviet artificial satellites, Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2, on October 4 and November 3, 1957, the Science...
, the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
, and the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
; and he was a member of the Defense Industry Advisory Council.
Pat Hyland's honors and awards include:
- 1950 - Navy Distinguished Public Services Award for pioneering contributions to radar
- 1954 - Honorary Doctorate of Engineering, Lawrence Institute of Technology
- 1955 - Named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersThe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
(IEEE) - 1957 - IEEE Pioneer Award for Aeronautical and Navigation Electronics
- 1967 - Collier TrophyCollier TrophyThe Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association , presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space...
for the Surveyor 1Surveyor 1Surveyor 1 was the first lunar soft-lander in the unmanned Surveyor program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . This lunar soft-lander gathered data about the lunar surface that would be needed for the manned Apollo Moon landings that began in 1969...
moon landing - 1967 - Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Gold Medal for Meritorious Service
- 1974 - IEEE Founders Medal for leadership and management in the field of electronics
Hyland's autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Call Me Pat: The Autobiography of the Man Howard Hughes Chose to Lead Hughes Aircraft, was published posthumously in 1994.