Thomas P. Quinn
Dr. Thomas P. Quinn
(Acting) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
In officeJuly 18, 1987 – May 23, 1988
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byDonald C. Latham
Succeeded byGordon A. Smith
In officeMay 13, 1989 – November 19, 1989
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byGordon A. Smith
Succeeded byDuane P. Andrews
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
In officeJuly 1987 – January 1991
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
In officeJuly 1993 – March 1994
PresidentBill Clinton
In officeFebruary 1980 – July 1987
PresidentRonald Reagan
Personal details
Born(1930-03-20)March 20, 1930
Freeland, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 6, 2022(2022-11-06) (aged 92)
Fairfax, Virginia
SpouseBetty Quinn (m. 1961)
ChildrenGary Quinn, Robert Quinn
EducationPennsylvania State University (PhD, MSE, BSE)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1948 - 1953
RankElectronics Technician Petty Officer 1st Class
Battles/warsKorean War

Dr. Thomas P. Quinn (March 20th, 1930 – November 6th, 2022) served as the (Acting) United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C³I) from July 18, 1987 - May 23, 1988 and May 13, 1989 - November 19, 1989.[1]

Early Life and Education

Born in Freeland, Pennsylvania, Dr. Quinn attended Foster Township and St. Ann's High Schools. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1953. He returned home to Pennsylvania to attend the Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1957[2], at which time he was also awarded the Sperry Gyroscope Fellowship for graduate study.[3]

He went on to receive a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1958 and started a full-time instructor position in the College of Electrical Engineering. He also devoted a portion of his time to research in the Ionosphere Research Laboratory[4]. In 1964, he received a Ph.D from the Pennsylvania State University.[3]

Career

From 1964 to 1966, Dr. Quinn was employed by Penn State as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. During this time he also served as a consultant for the Stanford Research Institution.[3]

From 1966 to 1976, Dr. Quinn served as the Director of Field Projects for the Office of Naval Research.[3][5] From 1976 to 1979, he worked as the Special Assistant for Systems in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Engineering and Systems.

In 1980, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C³I). In 1987, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for C³I until 1991. During this time, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for C³I from July 18, 1987 - May 23, 1988 and May 13, 1989 - November 19, 1989.[1] From 1991 to 1993, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic and Tactical Command, Control, and Communications (S&TC3) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for C³I. In 1993, he went back to serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for C³I until 1994.

During his time in the DoD, Dr. Quinn played a key role in the restructuring of the NAVSTAR program and the development of MILSTAR.[6][7]

Awards and Recognition

Personal

Dr. Quinn married Betty Lyons on April 3rd, 1961.[3] The couple had two sons and two grandchildren. Dr. Quinn and his wife are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[11]

Publications

  • "A Coherent Detection System for a Rocket-Borne Ionospheric Sounder", Ionosphere Research Laboratory, PSU Scientific Report No. 113, Dec. 1958.[12]
  • "Instrumentation for Rocket Measurements of Electron Densities in the Ionosphere", Ionosphere Research Laboratory, PSU Scientific Report No. 127, Jan. 1960
  • "Feasibility Study of a Separating Capsule Rocket Experiment for the Accurate Determination of Absolute Electron Densities to a Height of Several Thousand Kilometers", Ionosphere Research Laboratory, PSU Scientific Report No.152, Nov. 1961[13]
  • "A Proposed Rocket Experiment for Measuring Electron Densities in the Upper F Region", Oct. 1961
  • "The Recombination Coefficient for the Nighttime F Layer. Journal of Geophysical Research, VOL 68, NO. 4, Feb. 1963[14]
  • "Latitude Variation of the Parameters of the Nighttime F Region", IEEE Professional Technical Group on Antennas and Propagation Newsletter, vol. 6, no. 2, May 1963, doi: 10.1109/MAP.1963.28061.[15]
  • "A Study of the Ion-Neutral Particle Collision Frequency and the Diffusion Coefficients for Atomic Oxygen Ions in the F Region", T.P. Quinn and J.S. Nisbet, Dec. 1963.[16]
  • "Recombination and Transport in the F Region of the Ionosphere," Journal of Geophysical Research, Jan. 1965[17]
  • "Tactical Communications via Satellites," VOLS 1 and 2, J. Kaiser, IDA Study S-211, Oct. 1965
  • "Measurement of Electron Density in the Upper Atmosphere by Propagation Measurements between Sections of a High Altitude Rocket, " J.S. Nisbet, T.P. Quinn, and J. Widmaier. Space Research, VII, 417-425, 1967.[18]
  • "SANGUINE System Implementation Plan", Department of the Navy Report, Classified, Sept. 1967
  • "Nuclear Effects on VLF Radio Propagation (U)" Classified, April 1968
  • "An Examination of the Aircraft-Submarine Communications Problem (U)" Classified NATO Report A/C-243 (COMACSUB)R/1, July 1970
  • "EW and C3 Countermeasures: The Official View", Journal of Electronic Defense, November-December 1980, pp. 18-26

References

  1. ^ ab"Department of Defense Key Officials: September 1947-March 2021"(PDF). United States Department of Defense. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  2. ^La Vie 1957 (v. 67 ed.). University Park (Pa.) ; State College (Pa.): Pennsylvania State University. 1957. p. 141.
  3. ^ abcdefBrownson, Anna (1992). Federal Staff Directory, 1992-1: With Biographical Information on Executive Staff Personnel. CQ Staff Directories.
  4. ^Warner, R. D. (July 15, 1968). "NIGHTTIME BEHAVIOR OF THE F-REGION OF THE IONOSPHERE"(PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  5. ^"Extensions of Remarks"(PDF). congress.gov. October 20, 1969.
  6. ^"Dr Thomas Patrick Quinn | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
  7. ^"AD-A233 797: The Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Signals and System Performance"(PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2025-02-02. Retrieved 2025-10-11.
  8. ^"Arthur S. Flemming Awards". The George Washington University, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. p. Award Winners 1948-2006. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  9. ^"President Reagan Presents Rank Awards to Senior Government Executives in Room 450 OEOB on December 17, 1984"(video). youtube.com. White House Television Office. Dec 17, 1984.
  10. ^"Past OEA Recipients". The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  11. ^"Quinn, Thomas P."ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  12. ^"A Coherent Detection System for a Rocket-Borne Ionospheric Sounder". Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  13. ^Carson, B. H.; Nisbet, J. S.; Quinn, T. P. (1961-11-01). FEASIBILITY STUDY OF A SEPARATING CAPSULE ROCKET EXPERIMENT FOR THE ACCURATE DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ELECTRON DENSITIES TO A HEIGHT OF SEVERAL THOUSAND KILOMETERS (Report).
  14. ^Nisbet, J. S.; Quinn, T. P. (February 15, 1963). "THE RECOMBINATION COEFFICIENT OF THE NIGHTTIME F LAYER /NASA GRANT NSG-134-61/ V. 68, NO. 4". Journal of Geophysical Research. doi:10.1029/JZ068i004p01031.
  15. ^""Latitude Variation of the Parameters of the Nighttime F Region"". IEEE Professional Technical Group on Antennas and Propagation Newsletter. 6 (2): 1–42. May 1963. doi:10.1109/MAP.1963.28061. ISSN 2168-3506 – via IEEE Explore.
  16. ^"Semi-annual Status Report, NASA Grant NsG - 134 - 61, 1 September 1963 to 29 February 1964"(PDF). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  17. ^Quinn, Thomas P.; Nisbet, John S. (1965). "Recombination and transport in the nighttime F layer of the ionosphere". Journal of Geophysical Research (1896-1977). 70 (1): 113–130. doi:10.1029/JZ070i001p00113. ISSN 2156-2202.
  18. ^Nisbet, J. S.; Quinn, T. P.; Widmaier, J. (1967-01-01). Measurements of electron density in the upper ionosphere by propagation measurements between sections of a high altitude rocket.
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