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U.S. Medal of Freedom Recipient Donald A. Quarles
Donald A. Quarles's tenure as the fourth Secretary of the Air Force was marked by an increased emphasis on research and development. Quarles was the first Air Force secretary with a strong formal, scientific background and he devoted much of his attention to technological advances. He proved in his 20-month tenure (Aug. 15, 1955 to April 30, 1957) that a scientist could lead and manage the Air Force competently. Like the first air secretary, Stuart Symington, Quarles was the right man at the right time.
Quarles was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, in July 1894. He graduated from high school at age 15, took summer courses at the University of Missouri, and taught school in Van Buren. Like his predecessor, Harold Talbott, Quarles saw service with the U.S. Army during World War I. After he earned a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and physics from Yale University in 1916, he enlisted in the Rainbow Division and served for two years in France and Germany, attaining the rank of captain in the field artillery.
During the early 1920s, he studied theoretical physics at Columbia University. In 1949, he became chairman of the Committee on Electronics of the Joint Research and Development Board of the Department of Defense.
In September 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him assistant secretary of defense for research and development, and he was subsequently selected by both the secretary of defense and the secretary of commerce to become the first chairman of the reorganized Air Navigation Development Board. In March 1954 the president appointed Quarles to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
Quarles was familiar with the leading scientists, and his excellent scientific knowledge was a solid foundation on which to base a great many of his own decisions. Quarles consistently stressed the importance of the United States maintaining qualitative superiority in the face of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' rapid technological advances. He urged the Air Force to devote adequate attention to research and development because pilots and ground crews had to "have at their disposal the best possible equipment." With a strong and sustained research and development program, Quarles supported the continuous strengthening of the service and he recommended that B–52, F–102 and F–104 production proceed without delay.
The Air Force was developing missiles and supersonic bombers with increasingly complex technologies that Quarles understood. Quarles was unable; however, to speak with President Eisenhower the way Symington had confronted President Harry S Truman. The legislative acts of 1949 and 1953 had changed Department of Defense relationships, and by 1953 the secretary of defense had a deputy and nine assistant secretaries who stood between him and the individual service secretaries. Quarles simply did not have the power that Symington had possessed. He had to support the administration's economy drive against the wishes of his own airmen.
He resigned as air secretary April 30, 1957, and was promoted to deputy secretary of defense. He remained in that position until his sudden death from a heart attack on May 8, 1959. President Eisenhower stated at the time that Quarles had devoted his extraordinary talents to the service of his country. His contribution was of inestimable value to the security of the United States and of the entire free world.
Among the many awards Quarles received during his career were honorary doctorates from the University of Arkansas in 1953 and New York University in 1955. He was awarded the U.S. Air Force Exceptional Service Award in 1957 and the U.S. Medal of Freedom Award posthumously.
Sworn into office Aug. 15, 1955
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Medal History
