Everett, Robert R., 1921-2018

Robert R. Everett (1921-2018), B.S., Duke University, 1942, M.S., MIT, 1943, was the President and CEO of the MITRE Corporation from 1969 to 1986. Everett started with MITRE at its inception in 1958, initially serving as Technical Director, and becoming Vice President, Technical Operations, in 1959. During Everett’s tenure, MITRE grew beyond its original mission of working with the United States Air Force and began to work for additional organizations including the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration and other education, health, and social agencies. After his retirement in 1986, Everett continued to serve on MITRE’s Board of Trustees until his death in 2018.

Robert Everett graduated from Duke University in 1942 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and received an M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943 from MIT. That same year, Everett joined MIT’s Servomechanisms Laboratory. In 1945 he joined Jay Forrester on Project Whirlwind, working on the development of electronic computers. In 1947 Project Whirlwind became the Electronic Computer Division of the Servomechanisms Laboratory; in 1951 it became the Digital Computer Laboratory, with Everett as Associate Director. Later in 1951 the Digital Computer Laboratory joined MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory as Division VI. Everett served as Associate Head of Division VI as well. Everett became head of Division VI in 1956. He oversaw the testing and development of the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) air defense system.

Everett also served with many governmental groups including: consultant to the Air Defense Panel, President’s Science Advisory Committee (1959-1960); consultant to the Air Force Systems Command Range Technical Advisory Group (1962-1968); member of the Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee (1968-1969); the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering Systems Engineering Management Panel (1968-1969); the DSB Task Force on Research and Development Management (1968-1969); member of the Advisory Council of the Panel on Major Systems Acquisition of the Commission on Government Procurement (1970-1972); member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tracking and Data Acquisition Advisory Panel (1971-1972); member of the Defense Science Board (DSB) (1987-1993), serving as chairman from 1988 through 1989.

In 1989, Everett received the National Medal of Technology for his work in real-time computer technologies and applications. Other honors include the Duke University Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Gold Medal Award for Engineering. Everett was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi, a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).