Abrahamson, James Alan

James Alan Abrahamson was born in 1933 in Williston ( North Dakota ). In 1955, he received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , in November of the same year he entered the training program for reserve officers, in May 1957 he completed training as a pilot at Laughlin Airbase, and in 1958 he completed training courses for the squadron commander . In 1961 he received a master's degree in aeronautics from the University of Oklahoma, and from August 1961 he became an officer in the Vela project, and served at the Los Angeles Air Force Base. In 1964-1965, he served in the 428th squadron of tactical fighters at Cannon Air Base, and at that time spent two cycles in Southeast Asia, where he made 49 sorties. In July 1966, he graduated with honors from the US Air Force Command and Staff College, after which he entered the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base . In August 1967, he became an astronaut in a manned orbital laboratory program, and was until the program ended in 1969.

After that, Abrahamson joined the Council on Aeronautics and Space under the Administration of the President of the United States . In March 1971, he became the manager of the AGM-65 Maverick missile program, and in 1973, after graduating from the Armed Forces Industrial College, he headed the 4590th Test Aviation Regiment.

In March 1974, Abrahamson became Inspector General of the US Air Force Command Systems, from May 1976 to July 1980 led the F-16 Multinational Training Program for Fighter Pilots. After that, he became deputy chief of staff of the US Air Force Command.

In November 1981, Abrahamson became deputy administrator of the Space Shuttle program. July 21, 1982 he was promoted to lieutenant general. In April 1984, he became the first director of Strategic Defense Initiative .

On March 1, 1989, James Abrahamson resigned. From October 1989 to April 1992, he was Executive Vice President for Corporate Development at Hughes Aircraft ; from April to September 1992, he was President of the transport sector of the company. From 1992 to 1995, James Abrahamson was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oracle Corporation. In 1998, he became ORBIMAGE's director and transformed it into GeoEye , the world's largest provider of remote sensing information.

• James Alan Abrahamson on astronaut.ru
• James A. Abrahamson Oral History . historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov. Circulation date May 3, 2019.