<p><b>Description:</b> Portrait of Clarence "Sy" Syvertson, Director of Ames Research Center 1978 - 1984.
</p><p>Syvertson was an exemplary scientist and a dynamic and innovative leader who began his career at Ames in 1948 and matched his theoretical insights on hypersonic airflows with brilliant experimental work. He led the 3.5-foot hypersonic wind tunnel branch and developed advanced vehicles like the XB-70 Valkyrie and the M2 lifting bodies.  His fundamental work on re-entry vehicles contributed to the design of the Space Shuttle. He served as Director of Astronautics and during the tenure of former Ames Center Director Hans Mark from 1969 to 1977 as Center Deputy Director.
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Under his leadership, NASA Ames continued to blossom as a world-class research organization.  Ames people did groundbreaking research on vertical-lift aircraft, built the world's largest wind tunnel, flew the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, consolidated its collaboration with NASA Dryden, and prepared the Galileo Probe for its journey to Jupiter.  He was elected to the NASA Ames Hall of Fame, was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the AIAA, and won many awards for his service to NASA and to space exploration.
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasacommons/4994064172/">Portrait of Clarence "Sy" Syvertson, Director of Ames Research Center 1978 - 1984</a>