Richard Harbert Smith
Encyclopedia
Richard Harbert Smith was a professor and researcher of aeronautical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
, from 1929 to 1945.
His academic education was at the Moores Hill
College (BS
, 1915), Indiana
, today University of Evansville
; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(SB
, 1918), Cambridge
(Greater Boston
), Massachusetts
; and the Johns Hopkins University
(MA
, 1928; PhD
, 1929), Baltimore
, Maryland
.
After World War I
, Prof. Smith worked as an assistant at the United States Naval Research Laboratory
. In 1929, he was an associate physicist at the Navy's laboratory when he was hired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an associate professor of aeronautical engineering, being promoted to full professor in 1931.
For many years, he was Dr. Jerome Clarke Hunsaker
's assistant administrator for aeronautical engineering at MIT.
During the World War II
period, Prof. Smith coordinated the MIT Civilian Pilot Training Program
and was also instructor for several classes of female engineering trainees for the Curtiss
company.
In 1945, he left MIT to go to Brazil
, hired by the Brazilian government, in a venture led by Casimiro Montenegro Filho
, then lieutenant-colonel of the Brazilian Air Force
, to establish an institute of aeronautics, the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (Aeronautical Technology Institute), of which he became the first rector
. This was an outstanding contribution to the scientific and technological education in Brazil
.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, from 1929 to 1945.
His academic education was at the Moores Hill
Moores Hill, Indiana
Moores Hill is a town in Sparta Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 597 at the 2010 census.-History:Platted in 1839 by Adam Moore and Andrew Stevens, it originally contained nine lots adjacent to Moore 's gristmill. Many early settlers in the town were Methodist...
College (BS
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, 1915), Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, today University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(SB
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, 1918), Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
(Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
), Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; and the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, 1928; PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, 1929), Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Prof. Smith worked as an assistant at the United States Naval Research Laboratory
United States Naval Research Laboratory
The United States Naval Research Laboratory is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps and conducts a program of scientific research and development. NRL opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison...
. In 1929, he was an associate physicist at the Navy's laboratory when he was hired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an associate professor of aeronautical engineering, being promoted to full professor in 1931.
For many years, he was Dr. Jerome Clarke Hunsaker
Jerome Clarke Hunsaker
Jerome Clarke Hunsaker was an American airman born in Creston, Iowa, and educated at the Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.-Life:...
's assistant administrator for aeronautical engineering at MIT.
During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
period, Prof. Smith coordinated the MIT Civilian Pilot Training Program
Civilian Pilot Training Program
The Civilian Pilot Training Program was a flight training program sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military preparedness....
and was also instructor for several classes of female engineering trainees for the Curtiss
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company was an American aircraft manufacturer that went public in 1916 with Glenn Hammond Curtiss as president. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States...
company.
In 1945, he left MIT to go to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, hired by the Brazilian government, in a venture led by Casimiro Montenegro Filho
Casimiro Montenegro Filho
Casimiro Montenegro Filho was a Brazilian army and air force officer. He reached the rank of Marechal-do-ar, the highest rank of the Brazilian Air Force rank system....
, then lieutenant-colonel of the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
, to establish an institute of aeronautics, the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (Aeronautical Technology Institute), of which he became the first rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. This was an outstanding contribution to the scientific and technological education in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
External links
- University of Evansville (earlier Moores HillMoores Hill, IndianaMoores Hill is a town in Sparta Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 597 at the 2010 census.-History:Platted in 1839 by Adam Moore and Andrew Stevens, it originally contained nine lots adjacent to Moore 's gristmill. Many early settlers in the town were Methodist...
College), IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. - MIT Archives.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Johns Hopkins University.
- Smith, R H - List of Technical Reports. NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS).
- Dr. Jerome Clarke Hunsaker. Article from the Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Shatswell Ober, "The Story of Aeronautics at M.I.T., 1895 to 1960". Amazon.com site.
- Site of the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (Aeronautical Technology Institute).
- MIT Museum.
- MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Richard Harbert Smith. Wiki of ITA Alumni.
- Smith, R. H. Conference "Brazil, future aviation power" (excerpts in PortuguesePortuguese languagePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
). Conference held in Sept 26, 1945, at the Brazilian Education Ministry auditorium, in Rio de Janeiro, invited by the Instituto Brasileiro de Aeronáutica (Brazilian Institute of Aeronautics). Site of the Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia Aeroespacial - DCTA (Brazilian Department of Aerospace Science and Technology).