Vannevar Bush: Engineer of the American Century

Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century

by G. Pascal Zachary

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	26611 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	561 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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Vannevar Bush was an American engineer, inventor, and science administrator who played a leading role in the development of the atomic bomb and the U.S. space program. He is also known for his pioneering work in the field of hypertext, which laid the foundation for the development of the World Wide Web.

Early life and education

Vannevar Bush was born in Everett, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1890. He was the son of Richard Perry Bush, a Unitarian minister, and Bertha Cheney Bush. Bush attended Tufts College (now Tufts University) in Medford, Massachusetts, where he studied electrical engineering. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1913.

After graduating from Tufts, Bush worked for a brief time as an electrical engineer for the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York. In 1915, he returned to Tufts to teach electrical engineering. He remained at Tufts until 1917, when he left to join the U.S. Navy during World War I.

World War I and the development of the radio compass

Bush served in the U.S. Navy during World War I as a lieutenant commander. He was assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., where he worked on the development of a radio compass. The radio compass was a device that allowed ships to determine their direction by using radio waves. Bush's work on the radio compass was instrumental in the development of modern navigation systems.

Post-war career

After World War I, Bush returned to Tufts to continue his teaching and research. In 1923, he was appointed dean of the School of Engineering at Tufts. In 1927, he was elected president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE). In 1929, he was appointed vice president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1932, he was elected president of MIT.

As president of MIT, Bush oversaw a period of rapid growth and expansion. He established new departments and programs, and he increased the size of the faculty and student body. He also led MIT's involvement in the development of radar, which played a major role in the Allied victory in World War II.

World War II and the Manhattan Project

In 1940, Bush was appointed chairman of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC). The NDRC was responsible for coordinating research and development of new weapons and technologies for the U.S. military. In 1941, the NDRC was reorganized into the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD). Bush was appointed director of the OSRD, and he played a leading role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Bush was one of the key figures in the Manhattan Project, the secret government project to develop the atomic bomb. He was responsible for overseeing the project's scientific research and development. He also played a role in the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan.

Post-war career

After World War II, Bush continued to serve as director of the OSRD until 1947. He then returned to MIT as president. He remained at MIT until 1953, when he retired. After retiring from MIT, Bush continued to be active in science and technology policy. He served as a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee from 1957 to 1962. He also served as chairman of the National Science Board from 1954 to 1962.

Legacy

Vannevar Bush is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of science and technology. He played a leading role in the development of the atomic bomb, the U.S. space program, and the World Wide Web. He was also a visionary leader who helped to shape the future of science and technology in the United States.

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Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century

by G. Pascal Zachary

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	26611 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	561 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE