Other names Lee Atwood Role Engineer | Name John Atwood Predecessor Dutch Kindelberger | |
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Born November 26, 1904 ( 1904-11-26 ) Walton, Kentucky Title Chief Engineer at North American Aviation Died March 5, 1999, Santa Monica, California, United States | ||
Education Hardin–Simmons University | ||
John Leland Atwood (October 26, 1904 – March 5, 1999) was a prominent engineer and executive in the aerospace industry. He worked as Chief Engineer/Executive at North American Aviation for over 35 years, succeeding Dutch Kindelberger as President and CEO. He developed the P-51 Mustang during World War II, the F-100 jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and oversaw the Apollo program.
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Biography
He was born in Walton, Kentucky, on October 26, 1904, to Reverend Dr. Elmer Bugg Atwood and Mabel Bagby Atwood. His younger brother was the linguist Elmer Bagby Atwood.
He was on the cover of Newsweek magazine, December 21, 1964; the cover title was "Apollo and the Moon Men - North American's Lee Atwood."
He died on March 5, 1999.
Legacy
In the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon, Atwood was portrayed by Ronny Cox. The Atwood Dorm at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, was named after him. In 1984, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.