John F. Ward
United States of America
1930-2024
John Francis Ward was born on Aug. 17, 1930, in Watertown, New York. He attended Clarkson College in New York and earned his bachelor's degree. He was a VFS Emeritus Member, having been a member for 64 years.
John F. Ward was an Executive Scientist with the Aerospace Systems Group of ORI, Inc., Rockville, Maryland. Mr. Ward's responsibilities focused on rotorcraft technology maters in the Aeronautics and Space Technology matters in the Aeronautics and Space Technology Division located in Landover, Maryland. Until August 1985, Mr. Ward served as Assistant Director for Aeronautics (Rotorcraft), Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington, D.C. Mr. Ward also served as Executive Secretary of the NASA Aeronautical Advisory Committee Informal Subcommittee on Rotorcraft Technology.
Mr. Ward joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in June 1952 as an Aeronautical Research Engineer in the Loads Calibration Section at Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. Form August 1957 to June 1958, he was an Aeronautical Design Evaluation Engineer in New York for the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Returning to Langley in 1958 as an Aerospace Technologist in the Flight Research Branch, Mr. Ward’s research activities had been related exclusively to rotary wing since 1959. In September 1972 he was named Assistant Chief of Langley’s Flight Research Branch, responsible for developing a broad program in rotorcraft research and technology and for coordinating joint aerodynamic and structural activities with the US Army Air Mobility Research and Development Laboratory at Langley. Mr. Ward transferred to NASA Headquarters in May 1974 to serve as NASA Program Manager for the joint NASA/Army Rotor Systems Research Aircraft and Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft Programs.
The recipient of a NASA Langley Special Achievement Award in 1972 for his work in rotorcraft research, Mr. Ward was the author of many technical papers dealing with rotorcraft structures, dynamics, and aerodynamics. In addition, Mr. Ward had authored numerous articles on rotorcraft technology and was a contributing author for the National Air and Space Museum publication Vertical Flight—The Age Of The Helicopter. Mr. Ward was the first recipient of the American Helicopter Society Howard Hughes Award (1978) for his contributions to helicopter research and technology. He received a NASA Headquarters Exceptional Performance Award in 1985. In 1986 Mr. Ward was presented a Fellow Award by the American Helicopter Society and was awarded the Society’s Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship for his lecture titled– Rotorcraft Research — A National Effort.
Mr. Ward was a Sustaining Member of the Helicopter Association International and he had served in various positions in the American Helicopter Society, including Editor of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society and Technical Chairman of the American Helicopter Society's (now Vertical Flight Society) 40th Annual Forum.
Mr. Ward passed away peacefully on his 94th birthday, on Aug. 17th, 2024, at home with his wife by his side.
Journal of the American Helicopter Society: April 1987 Volume 32 - Number 2