Engineer and aerospace executive, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He developed microwave technology at General Electric and made Hughes Aircraft a major defence contractor before co-founding the Los Angeles-based Ramo-Wooldridge Corp (later TRW) and Bunker Ramo. As chief scientist of the US intercontinental ballistic missile programme (19548) he helped to develop the Atlas, Titan, and Minuteman missiles. Retired in 1978, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1983).
Simon Ramo (born May 13, 1913) is an American physicist, engineer, and business leader. He led development of microwave and missile technology and is sometimes known as the father of the Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Simon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Lithuanian immigrants who ran a small store.
From 1936 until 1946 he led electronics research at General Electric. He became globally recognized as a leader in Microwave research and headed the development of GE’s Electron microscope.
In 1946 he returned to California to become director of research for the electronics department of Hughes Aircraft, and his career became coupled with that of Dean Wooldridge. Together they formed an incredibly successful team for many years, with Wooldridge concentrating on investment and general business aspects while Ramo led research, development and engineering efforts. Dr. Ramo became a Vice-President and the Group’s Director of Operations. Ramo employed his skills in Systems Engineering to allow Hughes to deliver integrated RADAR and aircraft fire-control systems.
By 1953, both Ramo and the Air Force had became increasingly frustrated with management problems at Hughes. Ramo and Wooldridge were particularly concerned when Howard Hughes avoided their attempts to discuss the problem.
In October 1953 an Assistant Secretary of Defense, Trevor Gardner, created a committee to consider the future of guided missiles. This Strategic Missile Evaluation Committee (SMEC) was headed by John von Neumann and included both Simon Ramo and Dean Wooldridge.
Ramo-Wooldridge became the lead contractor for the resulting Air Force program. With Dr. Ramo as the driving scientific and engineering officer, they succeeded. USAF General Bernard Schreiver, head of the ICBM program, described Ramo as "The architect of the Thor, Atlas, and Titan" rockets.
Ramo-Wooldridge merged with Thompson Products to become TRW, and Simon Ramo became Vice-Chairman. In 1969, when TRW spun off their Space Technology Laboratories division, it became Bunker-Ramo with Ramo as President and expanded into the computer and communications technology fields.
In the course of a long and successful career Dr. Ramo has received numerous awards and fellowships.
Dr. Ramo is also a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Ramo has also authored dozens of books on topics ranging from science textbooks, corporate and technology management, society’s relation to technology, economy, and how to play tennis. Dr. Ramo is retired and lives in Beverly Hills, California.
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