John Valentine Breakwell (1917 – April 16, 1991) was a noted American control theorist and a Professor of Astronautics at Stanford University. He is remembered for his contributions to the "science and applications of astrodynamics, for discovery of flight-trajectory optimization, and for outstanding academic service." He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1981 and a recipient of the Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award in 1983. References External links NAE profile Control theorists Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award recipients 1917 births 1991 deaths Stanford University faculty Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Harvard University alumni Swiss emigrants to the United States