Gates, Clarence R., 1926-2008. JPL Detailees Collection, 1968-1992.
Title:
JPL Detailees Collection, 1968-1992.
The collection is composed of memoranda, correspondence, and lists regarding JPL detailees and assignees. The span dates are from 1968 to 1992, although the bulk dates are 1982-1990, with one letter regarding JPL Representative at NASA HQ William Petit dated 1968. The collection is divided into two series: Detailee Case Files, and Detailee/Assignee Lists. The Detailee Case Files are organized alphabetically, with the bulk of the series covering the years 1982-1990. Each detailee was issued a memo stating the terms of reference and a memorandum of understanding for the detailee assignment. The terms of reference spelled out the personal conduct regulations, and the Memo of Understanding formalized the travel and expense reimbursement. Also present in the files are cases where the assignment period would be extended for a stated length of time. The memos were generally written by the individuals division manager. The memoranda were compiled as a collection by the staff of the Associate Director, either Fred Felberg or Johnny Gates. Included in the collection is an alphabetical list, dated March 11, 1991, of the individuals whose case files are represented in the collection. The detailee assignment for William H. Petit as JPL Representative at NASA HQ, dated September 20, 1968, is included in the collection. Petit's assignment was a permanent one, and was completed in June 1982 upon Petit's retirement. This document is the only pre-1980 document in the collection. Petit's reports on the goings-on at NASA HQ in Washington D.C. are located in several other collections. Most often the detailee would be assigned to a position within the NASA Headquarters, although often it was to a NASA Center. Rarer still, but by no means unheard of was an assignment to a non-NASA agency, or even a foreign agency, such as in the case of Edward A. Cohen, assigned to the Okazaki National Research Institutes, Okazaki, Japan. Also included in the series are letters of commendation, such as one for John Schieldge, written by Shelby Tilford, Director of the Environmental Observation Division at NASA Headquarters to Moustafa Chahine, dated July 12, 1982. "As usual, JPL continues to support the Environmental Observation Program with the highest calibre professional scientific personnel." On occasion the detailee ended up leaving JPL permanently to assume a position at NASA Headquarters where they were originally assigned. This was the case of Wesley T. Huntress, who was on detailee assignment to NASA HQ Code SE since July 1988. An interoffice memorandum dated July 20, 1990 announced that Huntress was terminating his employment at JPL on August 1, 1990 to assume a position at NASA HQ. Huntress later served at NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science. After retiring from NASA, Huntress became Director of the Geophysical Laboratory at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and was named president of The Planetary Society in January 2002. In other cases, the detailee returned to JPL and advanced up the career ladder into a managerial position. This was the case with James King, Jr., who in 1985 was detailed to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, as a Visiting Professor of Chemistry. King eventually became JPL Director for Engineering and Science. Firouz M. Naderi, currently manager of the Mars Exploration Program Office, was a detailee to the NASA Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) in 1986-87. Anthony Spear was detailed to the Caltech Navy Space Program Office at Arlington VA, from November 1981 to November 1982. Spear later became the manager of the Mars Pathfinder Project at JPL in the 1990s. Gael Squibb was detailed to the Infrared Satellite Observatory for the European Space Agency at The Hague, The Netherlands, beginning in August 1988 for a period of two years. Squibb's initial terms of reference and memorandum of understanding are typed "JPL Discreet," although it is the same boilerplate that all other detailees were issued. Previous to this, Squibb served a half-time detailee assignment to the Astrophysics Division at OSSA for six months beginning in January 1987. Squibb eventually rose to become Director for Telecommunications and Mission Operations at JPL. Fred E. Vescelus, in 1983 was detailed to the Flight Programs Branch, Solar System Exploration Division, OSSA. His detaileeship at NASA Headquarters was extended for another six months in September 1984, until April 1985. Vescelus later served as deputy manager on several Earth Science projects at JPL. The second series in the collection are quarterly lists of detailees and assignees. These lists are arranged chronologically. This process was started on September 30, 1987, beginning with an interoffice memorandum from JPL Associate Director Johnny Gates to the Executive Council. The lists were compiled by Gates' Administrative Aide, Lynn M. Patterson, from information provided by the various JPL organizations. The lists included the detailee name, program office, NASA HQ office, start and end dates, and remarks. Assignee lists included the name of the JPL supervisor; detailee lists included the sponsor name and title. Patterson would issue a list of detailees and assignees on a quarterly basis to distribution, and request any comments, corrections or additions. The revised list would then be issued by Gates to the Executive Council. 1 folder containing documents that were identified as "JPL Discreet." The original positions of Discreet material in the collection have been marked with separation sheets. The material has been moved to a box at the end of the collection. As mentioned above, the discreet item is the initial terms of reference and memorandum of understanding for Gael Squibb while being detailed to the Infrared Satellite Observatory for the European Space Agency at The Hague, The Netherlands. This document is in standard boilerplate that all JPL detailees were issued.
ArchivalResource:
1.05 cubic ft. (29 folders)
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/733100890 View
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