Parks, Robert J., 1922-

Hide Profile

Robert J. Parks was born April 1, 1922, in Los Angeles, CA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1944. Parks then served two and a half years in the Army, and six months at Hughes Aircraft before joining the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in April 1947. Parks retired from JPL in June 1987.

Parks served as an Engineer in the Guidance and Control Section for three years before serving as Section Chief of the Guidance and Control Section, re-named the Guidance Analysis Section, from 1950-56. From 1956-57, he was Division Chief of the Research and Development Division. In 1957, he became Project Director of the Sergeant, serving until the program was phased out by JPL in June 1960. From 1959-60, Parks also served as Chief of Department III, Guidance and Electronics.

In May 1960, Parks became Director of the Planetary Program, and served as Manager of the early Mariner spacecraft. In December 1962, the Lunar Program Division and the Planetary Program Division merged, and Parks was named Assistant Laboratory Director (ALD) for Lunar and Planetary Projects. The Office of Lunar and Planetary Projects changed its name in 1968 to the Office of Flight Projects, with Parks continuing as ALD.

In March 1978, Parks was asked by Laboratory Director Bruce Murray to personally take charge of the Voyager Project, which had had some problems since the launch of the two spacecraft in August and September 1977. Parks served as Project Manager of Voyager from March 1978 to March 1979.

In September 1981, Parks left the Office of Space Flight to become Associate Director for Space Science and Exploration. He served in this capacity until the retirement of Deputy Director Charles H. Terhune, Jr. at the end of December 1983. Parks was named to succeed Terhune as JPL Deputy Director at the beginning of January 1984. Parks served as Deputy Director until his retirement at the end of June 1987.

Parks was awarded with the NASA Public Service Award in 1963 and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1967. Amongst his honors, Parks was awarded the Louis W. Hill Award in 1963, and the Goddard Astronautics Award in 1980, both from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the Stuart Ballantine Medal from the Franklin Institute in 1967. In 1973, Parks was elected to the National Academy of Engineers.

From the description of Robert J. Parks Collection, 1983-1987. (Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives). WorldCat record id: 733100854

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Establishment of the position of project engineer for spacecraft / launch vehicle integration : memo to all concerned, 1964 Mar 11. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Gates, Clarence R., 1926-2008. Clarence R. Gates Collection, 1980-1995. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Transfer of responsibility for Sergeant program : letter to ARGMA, 1959 Mar 27. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Lehan, Frank W. Optimum Demodulation : paper, 1953 Apr 8. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Kloman, Erasmus H. Surveyor Project Documents Collection, 1966-1971. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Colella, Frank J., 1921-. JPL Public Affairs Office Collection, 1969-1983. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Sparks, Brian O., 1911-1983. JPL-Industry Conference : proceedings, 1960 Nov 18. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
referencedIn Collier, W. ARGMA visit of December 19, 1959 : report to R. J. Parks and J. N. James, 1959 Dec 14. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Burke, James D., 1925-. History Office Collection, Ranger / Mariner/Surveyor. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Schurmeier, Harris M, 1924-. Harris M. Schurmeier Collection, 1970-1986. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Burke, James D., 1925-. JPL industry conference : proceedings, 1960 Oct 26. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. William H. Pickering Office File Collection, 1955-1976. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Policy on Contracting for Support Efforts : interoffice memorandum to Distribution, 1987 Dec 30. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. William H. Pickering Speech Collection, 1955-1975. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Centaur Management Coordinating Committee meeing: letter to Mr. William D. Escher, Secretary, Office of Launch Vehicle Systems, NASA, 1961 Oct 26. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
contributorOf REPORT ON THE MARINER II National Archives at College Park
referencedIn James, Jack N. 1920-2001. Presentation to Gen. Shinkle at ARGMA on Sergeant scheduling: lmemo to R. J. Parks, 1959 Dec 8. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Monthly flight projects review meeting : memo to distribution 1963 Dec 12. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. On-Site Workforce : Interoffice Memorandum to Executive Council, 1985 Dec 26. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Special JPL Retirees Reunion, Retirees of Director Louis Dunn's Reign, 1993 Mar 19. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Schurmeier, Bud (Harris M.), 1924-. [Memoranda originally transmitted with lithograph sets], 1965-1974. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Colella, Frank J., 1921-. Executive Council Memoranda Collection, 1977-1982. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. Office of the Director Collection, 1959-1982. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Monthly projects review meetings : Four memos to H. M. Schurmeier, G. Robillard, J. N. James, W. E. Giberson, et al 1963 -1965. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. Minutes of briefing on the occasion of the visit of Robert Kerr and James E. Webb : report, 1961 Oct 3. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf James, Jack N., 1920-2001. Plan for Space Program Development, 1976 Oct 20. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Quality, Reliability, and Safety : interoffice memorandum to W. E. Giberson, D. F. Dipprey, C. W. Johnson, 1987 Feb 18. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Nichols, Peter L., Jr. Solid-propellant development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory : Pub no. 105, 1957 Jul 17. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Sergeant schedule : letter to distribution , 1959 Dec 15. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Larsen, Valdemar C. Jr., 1902-1978. JPL Bulletins 1949-1958. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. JPL Significant Event Reports Collection, 1969-1971. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Albee, Arden L. The Bruce C. Murray and Charles H. Terhune, Jr. Director's Office Papers Collection, 1971-1979. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Reliability requirements in the Sergeant Military Characteristics : memo to all engineers and technicians, Dept. 3 , 1957 Mar 4. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Weekly project staff meeting : meeting minutes, 1964-1965. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. Office of the Director Interoffice memoranda Collection, 1958-1985. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. JPL Executive Council Collection, 1960-1982. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Robert J. Parks Collection, 1983-1987. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J. 1922-. Comments on propsed instruction on planning and managing OSS program : memo to L. S. Frankenstein, 1963 June 13. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Parks, Robert J., 1922-. Robert J. Parks Collection, 1945-1966. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, Lew, Jr., 1925-2010. person
associatedWith Aller, Robert O. person
associatedWith Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency. corporateBody
associatedWith Beggs, James M., 1926- person
associatedWith Briggs, Geoffrey A. person
associatedWith Colella, Frank J., 1921- person
associatedWith Collier, W. person
associatedWith Cummings, Clifford I., 1923-2006. corporateBody
associatedWith Edelson, Burton I. person
associatedWith Gates, Clarence R., 1926-2008. person
associatedWith Green, Elma D. person
associatedWith James, Jack N. 1920-2001. person
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Larsen, Valdemar C. Jr., 1902-1978. person
associatedWith Lehan, Frank W. person
associatedWith National Aeronautics and Space Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith Nichols, Peter L., Jr. person
associatedWith Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. person
associatedWith Schurmeier, Bud (Harris M.), 1924- person
associatedWith Schurmeier, Harris M, 1924- person
associatedWith Sparks, Brian O., 1911-1983. person
associatedWith United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Office of Space Sciences. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Budgeting
Comet rendezvous asteroid flyby mission
contract management
Design analysis
Galileo project
Mariner mark 2 spacecraft
Mariner program :
personnel
Position (title)
Project management
Quality control
Ranger project :
Sergeant missile
Surveyor project :
Voyager Project
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1922

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gj741f

Ark ID: w6gj741f

SNAC ID: 53185735