Born: United States of America
Primarily active in: United States of America

1930-2024

John Francis Ward was born on Aug. 17, 1930, in Watertown, New York. He attended Clarkson College in New York and earned his bachelor's degree. He was a VFS Emeritus Member, having been a member for 64 years. 

John F. Ward was an Executive Scientist with the Aerospace Systems Group of ORI, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.  Mr. Ward's responsibilities focused on rotorcraft technology maters in the Aeronautics and Space Technology matters in the Aeronautics and Space Technology Division located in Landover, Maryland.  Until August 1985, Mr. Ward served as Assistant Director for Aeronautics (Rotorcraft), Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington, D.C. Mr. Ward also served as Executive Secretary of the NASA Aeronautical Advisory Committee Informal Subcommittee on Rotorcraft Technology.

Ward joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in June 1952 as an aeronautical research engineer in the Loads Calibration Section at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. From August 1957 to June 1958, he was an aeronautical design evaluation engineer in New York for the US Civil Aeronautics Administration (later the FAA). Returning to Langley in 1958 as an aerospace technologist in the Flight Research Branch, Ward’s research activities became exclusively dedicated to rotary wing. In September 1972, he was named Assistant Chief of Langley’s Flight Research Branch, responsible for developing a broad program in rotorcraft research and technology and for coordinating joint aerodynamic and structural activities with the US Army Air Mobility Research and Development Laboratory at Langley. Ward transferred to NASA Headquarters in May 1974 to serve as NASA Program Manager for the joint NASA/Army Rotor Systems Research Aircraft and Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft Programs. Later, until he retired from government service in August 1985, Ward was NASA’s Assistant Director for Aeronautics (Rotorcraft) in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST). He also served as Executive Secretary of the NASA Aeronautical Advisory Committee Informal Subcommittee on Rotorcraft Technology. He was awarded the NASA Headquarters Exceptional Performance Award at his retirement

For several years thereafter, Ward served as an executive scientist with the Aerospace Systems Group of ORI Inc., in Rockville, Maryland. Ward's responsibilities focused on rotorcraft technology matters in support of NASA’s OAST. During 1996–2000, he served as the Executive Director of the Rotorcraft Industry Technology Association (RITA), which was absorbed into the Vertical Lift Consortium (VLC) a decade later.

The recipient of a NASA Langley Special Achievement Award in 1972 for his work in rotorcraft research, Ward was the author of many technical papers dealing with rotorcraft structures, dynamics, and aerodynamics. In addition, he authored numerous articles on rotorcraft technology and was a contributing author for the 1984 National Air and Space Museum book, Vertical Flight—The Age Of The Helicopter.

Ward joined VFS in 1970. He was the first recipient of the VFS Howard Hughes Award in 1978 for his contributions to helicopter research and technology. The citation reads, “For his original research on the effects of tip vortices on rotor loads, vibration, and acoustics, and contributions to the rotor blade tip vortex studies, and his continued devotion and leadership which made possible the design, fabrication, and successful flight testing of the Ogee tip.” Ward served in various positions in VFS, including Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society and Technical Chairman of the Society’s 40th Annual Forum. In 1986, Ward was selected as a VFS Fellow and also presented that year’s Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship for his lecture titled, "Rotorcraft Research — A National Effort" at Forum 42.

Mr. Ward passed away peacefully on his 94th birthday, on August 17, 2024, at home with his wife by his side.

Society Update: Vertiflite November/December 2024