Aerospace Mourns Former Trustee

as Nation Mourns Former President

WASHINGTON, D.C., (1/2/07) — Former President Gerald Ford, who died Dec. 26 at age 93, served Aerospace as a member of its Board of Trustees during the early eighties.

A trustee from 1981 through 1985, Ford served on the Nominating Committee in addition to serving on the full board. The president of Aerospace during that time was Dr. Eberhardt Rechtin, and the board chair was Dr. Robert Seamans.

Upon Ford’s retirement from the board in December 1985, Seamans presented him with a resolution in recognition of his service to Aerospace, a tradition for all retiring trustees. The resolution read in part, “Through his unique comprehension of the needs of the nation, his keen understanding of the relationships of science and technology with government, and his warm understanding of people, Mr. Ford has made key contributions to The Aerospace Corporation.”

Ford, 38th president of the United States, held the nation’s highest office from August 1974 to January 1977.

Former President Gerald Ford around the time he joined the Aerospace Board of Trustees in 1981.

The Aerospace Corporation, based in El Segundo, Calif., is an independent, nonprofit company that provides objective technical analyses and assessments for national-security space programs and selected civil and commercial space programs in the national interest.

Media Inquiries: Dave Jonta, 310-336-5041, david.l.jonta@aero.org