Jerome
Lederer
Class of 1989
Background:
Jerome (Jerry) Lederer was born September 26, 1902, in New
York, New York, U.S.A. He received a BSC in mechanical engineering
with aeronautical options in 1924 from New York University.
In 1925, he received the M.E. degree.
Professional
Experience:
In 1926, he served as aeronautical engineer for the United
States Air Mail Service, the world's first successful system
of scheduled air transportation. In 1927, following the ferment
in aviation inspired by the Lindbergh flight, Mr. Lederer
became a consultant to several airplane manufacturers. From
1929 to 1940 he served as chief engineer for pioneer aviation
insurance underwriters. At the request of the Civil Aeronautics
Board in 1940, he took leave to accept appointment as director
of its Safety Bureau. He resigned in 1942 to engage in war-related
activities as director, Airlines War Training Institute, "Safety
Consultant to the 2nd Air Force," member of the U.S.
Strategic Bombing Survey in Europe. In 1947, he organized
the Flight Safety Foundation and was its director until 1967,
concurrently serving as director, Cornell-Guggenheim Aviation
Safety Research Center. In 1967, following the deaths of three
astronauts by fire at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA appointed
him director, Office of Manned Space Flight Safety (the Apollo
Program). In 1970, he became director of safety for all of
NASA, which involved space and aircraft operations, industrial
safety, fire and vehicular safety, retiring in 1972.
Career
Highlights:
Jerome Lederer was known internationally as "Mr. Aviation
Safety." He was the first director, Safety Bureau of
the Civil Aeronautics Board in charge of all civil aviation
safety regulations and the investigation of all civil aviation
accidents. During the war, he trained some 10,000 airmen and
35,000 mechanics in 14 months for the Air Transport Command.
After the war, he organized the Flight Safety Foundation for
the global exchange of information on aircraft accident prevention.
Concurrently he organized the Cornell-Guggenheim Aviation
Safety Research Center for the international exchange of information
on research in aviation safety. Among numerous awards are
the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Group Achievement
Award, the Ziolkoski Gold Medal of the Soviet Federation of
Cosmonauts, the FAA Distinguished Service Medal, the Wright
Brothers Memorial Award and the Von Baumhauer Medal of the
Royal Dutch Aeronautical Society. He was an honorary member
of the Airline Pilots Association and of the Air Traffic Controllers
Association. He was an adjunct professor, Institute of Safety,
University of Southern California, U.S.A.
