HOF 2007 – Academics/Achievement
After graduating from CHS in 1943, John Miller graduated from and joined the staff of M.I.T. Instrumental Laboratory (now The Draper Laboratory), where he was first involved in the development of the directly digitally encoded accelerometer for the Polaris missile guidance system. Following successful flight demonstrations, he began work in 1961 on the Apollo guidance, navigation, and control system for the flight vehicles to the moon. He was appointed Technical Director for the systems development at M.I.T. and had full responsibility for this hardware, and the checkout software in the Command and Lunar flight vehicles. He participated in all Apollo flights at Cape Kennedy through and including the first landing on the moon, Apollo 11. Following the launch of these flights, he was at NASA John Space Center to support flight operations, landing and recovery.
He continues to be an active amateur orchid grower, a hobby he has enjoyed for 55 years.
Achievements and Awards at CHS
I was an above average student, not in the top 10%. I do not recall any awards except something having to do with the Aberdeen relays.
Unique contributions to CHS
I do not recall any unique contributions to CHS. I was the third Chair in the trombone section of three trombones in the CHS band.
Other achievements and awards (received elsewhere than CHS).
Following graduation from CHS in June 1943 I entered the Army, during World War II. In 1944 received an appointment to the United State Military Academy from South Dakota, which I entered in 1945. I graduated from West Point in 1949 and entered the US Air Force with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In 1951, I attended the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology (MIT) and received a MS degree in aeronautical engineering in 1953. Follow graduation, I was assigned to the Guidance Laboratory at Wright-Patterson US Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. From 1955-1958, I was an Assistant Professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology. In 1958, I resigned from the U.S. Air Force with the Rand of Captain.
In 1959, I joined the staff of M.I.T. Instrumental Laboratory (now The Draper Laboratory), where I was first involved in the development of the directly digitally encoded accelerometer for the Polaris missile guidance system. Following successful flight demonstrations of the guidance system, I began work in 1961 on the Apollo guidance, navigation, and control system for the flight vehicles to the moon. I was appointed Technical Director for the systems development at M.I.T. and had full responsibility for this hardware, as well as the checkout software in the Command and Lunar flight vehicles. I build up an organization to complete the design, prototype construction, and testing at M.I.T.; to monitor production and testing in the industry; and to operate five field offices. I participated in all Apollo flight check outs and launches at Cape Kennedy through and including the first landing on the moon, Apollo 11. Following the launch of these flights, I was at NASA John Space Center to support flight operations, landing and recovery.
Other accomplishments:
In 1969, along with four associates, I organized Intermetrics, Inc. As President and CEO, I led the company for 17 years from a start up private company to a public company in 1982 with $46 million in revenue and 600 employees in 13 locations in the US. In 1986, I became Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1995, the company was acquired. The company designed the software programming language and built the compilers for the NASA Space Shuttle program and that software system remains in operation today. I received the NASA Public Service Award for achievement in computer software for the Space Shuttle Avionics System. In addition, the company received the NASA Public Service Award for the accomplishment in the Space Shuttle Avionics system software. The company was responsible for the first development of the navigation software for the first Global Positioning System.
Additional Achievements
I have served on the Board of Directors of Intermetrics, Inc., Galaxy Scientific Corporation, Sage Laboratories, Inc., Active Controls eXperts, Inc., The American Electrics Association, the Massachusetts High Technology Council and on the Boston University Enterprise Board of the Photonics Center. I have been a Research Affiliate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the period of 1995-2001. I am a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. I am currently a member of the M.I.T. Alumni Venture Mentoring Service as a mentor. I was appointed to the NASA Space Station Advisory Committee in 1991 and became Chairman of the Committee in 1992. Concurrently, I was a member of NASA Advisory Council reporting to the NASA Administrator through 1994. I served one year on the M.I.T. Alumni Board. I am currently a board member of Vehicle Sense, Inc. and Harmony Line, Inc. as well as a member of the Finance Committee for the Town of Westport.
Additional information to share with the selection committee:
I retired from active employment at Intermetrics in 1990, but retained Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. I then took major portions of the Culinary Arts Program at the Bristol Community College. I continue to be an active amateur orchid grower, a hobby I have enjoyed for 55 years.