Norman Ralph Augustine

Norman Ralph Augustine (born July 27, 1935) is a U.S. aircraft businessman. Born in Denver, Colorado, Augustine is an Eagle Scout, a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America and was the national president from 1994 to 1996.

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Augustine received his B.S.E. degree in 1957, and his M.S.E. degree in 1959, from Princeton University, majoring in aeronautical engineering. During this time, he was assistant in research at the James Forrestal Research Center, Princeton University from 1957–1958. Augustine also worked as research aerodynamicist, program manager, and chief engineer from 1958–1963.

Augustine worked for Douglas Aircraft Company, Santa Monica, California, and was staff assistant to the Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Strategic Defense Systems; assistant director of Defense Research and Engineering for Tactical Missiles and Ordnance and for Land Warfare in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1965–1970. He also was the vice president, Advanced Systems for the Vought Missiles and Space Company, LTV Aerospace Corporation, Dallas, Texas, and director, Advanced Missiles and Space Systems for the Vought Systems Division, 1970–1973.^[1]

Later, he was a consultant to the Executive Office of the President, 1971–1973; was Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Development, 14 September 1973–11 May 1975; member of NASA Research and Technical Advisory Council, 1972–1975; chairman of NASA Space Systems and Technical Advisory Board, 1985—; was Undersecretary of the Army, 23 May 1975–26 July 1977.

After leaving government service, he was vice president for operations, Martin Marietta Aerospace Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland, 1977–1982; president, Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace Company, 1982–1985, and president and chief operating officer, 1986–1987.

He was also chairman, advisory board Department of Aeromechanical Engineering, Princeton University, 1973–1983; from president to chairman, Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace Company, 1986–1995; professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Princeton University, 1997—; is chairman of the executive committee of Lockheed Martin.

Augustine served as the president of Martin Marietta Aerospace Corporation between 1986 and 1987. He also served as the CEO of Martin Marietta from 1987 and as chairman of Martin Marietta from 1988. He is the chair of the audit committee of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

From his insider's knowledge of defense contracting and program managment, he authored a book, Augustine's Laws (1st Ed 1983) which offered humourous insights into business practices within large corporations, including the burden of management layers, government and administrative overhead, difficulties of software design, and the costs/complexity of managing large projects. His wit and clarity are still relevant and timely to this day.

Augustine is a senior advisor at Frontier Group, a private equity investment firm founded by Sanford McDonnell (Chairman Emeritus, McDonnell Douglas Corporation) and David Robb (formerly of the Carlyle Group).

See also

References

1. Stan Crock. "CEO Chuckles". BusinessWeek. Retrieved on 2006-11-07.