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SAMUEL COCHRAN PHILLIPS
1921-1990
BY GEORGE E. MUELLER
GENER) SAMUEL C. PHILLIPS, truly a hero of our time, was a
superlative leader, an unequaled manager, a true friend to all
who knew him, and a quiet fighter who never lost a battle until
his death, January 31, 1990.
The nation lost one of its most eminent engineering manag-
ers, the man who lee! the team to put men on the moon, the team
that restored the prestige of our nation in the eyes of the world.
Sam was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
(NAE) in 1971 in recognition of his continuing leadership of
advanced technological programs. As a U.S. Air Force of firer, his
career began with the (development of the B52 bomber, the
deployment of the Thor missiles in England, the development of
the Minuteman missile system (a driving force for the large-scale
strategic integrated circuit breakthroughs in silicon technolo-
gy), and the direction of the Apollo manned lunar landing
program for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA); progressed to becoming the director of the National
Security Agency for all the U.S. Armed Forces; and culminated as
the commander of the U.S. Air Force Systems Command, responsi-
ble for all the development programs in the U.S. Air Force. As a
civilian he managed the Energy Systems Group of TRW, led the
"Phillips Committee" review of NASAmanagementfollowing the
Challenger accident, and served as a councillor of NAE and
pane! member for committees of the National Research Council
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
ancIjoint activities of the Academies (the NAE and the National
Academy of Sciences).
Sam was a Westerner, with all the understated strength and
integrity of that people. Born in Springerville, Arizona, he
graduatecI from the University of Wyoming in 1942 to go into the
U.S. Air Force and to serve with ctistinction in the Eighth Air
Force in Europe. After returning to the States and completing an
M.S. in electrical engineering at the University of Michigan, he
began his career as a manager. Typical Sam, on finding his role
as a manager in the U.S. Air Force system hamstrung by the
division between the program manager and the contracting
officer, he took the necessary steps to qualify as a contracting
officer as well as a program manager. He always found a way to
make the system work for him. As a U.S. Air Force program
manager, he was responsible for the innovative and enduring
B52 bomber, which led to his selection by General Schriever to
manage first the deployment of the Thor missile in England and
then the development of the Minuteman ballistic missile, the
workhorse of our missile systems.
Not widely recognized, then or now, Sam's Minuteman elec-
tronic systems were a driving force that speeded development of
the reliable, ubiquitous integrated circuits, which are the foun-
dation of our electronics technology today.
Perhaps his greatest contribution to the future of mankind
was his leadership of the Apollo program from 1964 until the
first landing of men on the moon in July of 1969. Sam's contri-
bution to this, the most outstanding achievement of this century,
was neither understood nor aclequately recognized by the public
or the media, although fully appreciated by his many friends in
government and industry.
In recognition of his many achievements, he was widely
honored by his peers. In addition to his election to the National
Academy of Engineering, he was elected a fellow of the Arneri-
can Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the American
Astronautical Association. He was given an honorary doctor of
law (degree from the University of Wyoming.
He received the Simon Ramo Medal of the IEEE, the White
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SAMUEL COCHRAN PHILLIPS
227
Space Trophy from the National Geographic Society, the Lan-
gley GoIcI Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Astro-
nautics Engineer Award from the National Space Club, the
Distinguished Service Medal: Air Force from the U.S. Depart-
ment of Defense, and the Distinguished Service Mecial twice
from NASA.
.
Sam dicl not rest on his laurels. After the successful landing on
the moon, he returned to active duty in the U.S. Air Force and
took command of the space and missiles systems organization,
where he led the studies that definecl the follow on to the
Minuteman program ant! began the implementation of the U.S.
Air Force's shuttle program. His next assignment was as com-
mander of the National Security Agency, where he was instru-
mental in invigorating the research program and in improving
the management of their development programs. His final U.S.
Air Force assignment was as commander of the U.S. Air Force
Systems Command, with responsibility for all the clevelopment
projects in the U.S. Air Force.
After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he began a new career
In an entirely different field, where his management skills were
put to the test and he became vice-president and general man-
ager of TRW's Energy Products Group. After successfully guid-
ing that group to profitability, he returned to his original fielcl of
interest, where he encled his industrial career as vice-presiclent
of TRW's Defense Systems Group.
Over the years, Sam continued to serve the nation, including
serving as chairman of the "Phillips Committee," advising NASA on
management improvements following the Challenger accident.
General Samuel C. Phillips served his nation well and long.
May his memory serve as an example for those who follow.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
driving force
