Seamans, Robert
Robert Channing Seamans Jr. (Oct. 30, 1918- June 28, 2008) was born in Salem to Pauline and Robert Seamans. He attended Lenox School, in Lenox, Massachusett; earned
a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Harvard University before moving on to M.I.T. where he got a Masters of Science in Aeronautics as well as a
Doctor of Science degree in Instrumentation.
After teaching at M.I.T. from 1941-1955, he joined RCA (Radio Corporation of America) eventually becoming Chief Engineer of the Missile Electronics and Controls Devision.
From 1948-1958 he worked for NASA predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He served as a consultant to the Scientific Advisory Board
of the U.S. Air Force from 1957-59. In 1960, Seamans joined NASA as Associate Administrator. In 1965, he became Deputy Administrator. He was manager at the time
of the Apollo moon-landing program
In 1969, he became Secretary of the United States Air Force, serving until 1973. He was president of the National Academy of Engineering from 1973-74, when he
became first administrator of the new Energy Research and Development Administration.
He married Eugenia Merrill on June 13, 1942 in Beverly Farms, Mass. He had three sons and two daughters.
He died on June 18, 2008 in Beverly, Mass. at age 89.
His sister-in-law was local artist, and sculptor Beverly Seamans.
See Also
Aiming at targets / Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
The Moon Czar; Beverly man played key role in space race. Salem News, July 20, 2019, p. 1
