alexander kossiakoff: his life and career, part two · 12 johns hopkins apl technical digest ......

12 JohnshopkinsApLTechnicALDigesT,VoLume27,number1(2006)

s. J. seYmour and J. L. TeesDALe

T

Alexanderkossiakoff:hisLifeandcareer,partTwo

Samuel J. Seymour and James L. Teesdale

heretirementofDr.AlexanderkossiakoffasDirectorofApLinJune1980markedanaturaltransitionofhisinterests,tremendousenergies,andcreativitytoadvancingsci-enceandeducation,exactlyaspredictedbyDr.ralphgibsonintheprecedingarticle.kossy often joked that he had a quixotic affection for attacking the most challenginganddauntingwindmills,thesizeorcomplexityoftheproblembeingaslargeaspossible.FortunatelyforApL,theuniversity,andthenation,kossywasabletodevoteanother25years,makingextraordinaryaccomplishmentsinscienceandeducationduringhispost-retirementcareer.Thefollowingarticleprovidesinsightintohowhemadetheseworthyaccomplishmentsthroughcolleagueswhoknewhisbest.

CHIEF SCIENTISTAftersteppingdownastheDirectorofApLin1980,Dr.kossiakoffwasappointedthe

Laboratory’schiefscientist.inthisrole,ApLcouldcontinuetobenefitfromhisexperi-enceandwisdom.Laboratoryleaders,includingdirectors,departmentheads,programmanagers, group supervisors, and individual technical contributors, routinely soughthis guidance inaddressingbothmanagementand technical issues.sometimes theseconsultationsmightoccupyafewhours,whileandatothertimestheycouldinvolveprojectsthatwouldspanmanymonths.ofcourse,onequicklylearnedthatyoudidnothavetoextendaninvitationtoreceivekossy’sthoughtsandsuggestionsforhowbesttoaddressaproblem,ashewasneverhesitanttojumprightinwhenheencounteredachallengingissue.

Anareawherehemayhavehadthegreatestimpactwasservingasaninformalmentortostaffmemberswhohadreachedastageoftransitionintheircareer—fromtheroleofindividualcontributortothatofsupervisor,projectmanager,orsystemsengineer.peoplequicklylearnedthathenotonlypossessedathoroughunderstandingofthecriticalfactorsin making a successful transition, but also welcomed the opportunity to assist them intheprocess.

kossyassumedmanyresponsibilitiesandcontinued toplayanactive role throughoutthis stageofhiscareer.examples includehis serviceasDirectorof theAlfrede.mann

JohnshopkinsApLTechnicALDigesT,VoLume27,number1(2006) 13

ALeXAnDerkossiAkoFF:hisLiFeAnDcAreer,pArTTWo

Fund, an endowment fund of the university used forconducting research and development in the applica-tionofadvancedtechnologytomedicine.hewasalsoa member of the editorial board of the Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest.in2000,hewasappointedtothenewly formed ApL science and Technology council,wherehewasactiveonsubteamschargedwithaddress-ingcapabilitiesassessment,requirementsdefinition,andtheestablishmentofanexternalscienceandtechnologyadvisorypanel.

TECHNICAL MANAGEMENTApLhashad a long-standing interest in education

andexperiencedstaffwhoenjoyedtheacademicenvi-ronment.AsDirectoroftheLaboratory,Dr.kossiakoffengaged the ApL Advisory board in maintaining anawarenessof theneed formore trainedmanagers andengineers.WiththeproddingofDr.stevenmuller,thenpresidentofhopkins,theAdvisoryboardinthespringof1974authorizedtheestablishmentofacommitteetodevelop a Technical management program. The pro-gram focused on three areas: organization, direction,and motivation of technical people, the managementof research and development projects, and systemsengineeringandanalysis.Theprogramwas then, andremainstoday,basedonhighlyinteractivediscussions,assignmentsfeaturingrealisticsituations,andextensiveuseof teamorgroupactivities sostudentscould learnfromeachotheraswellasfromexperiencedinstructors.by1979,JhuandtheLaboratorywerereadytocommitto fully developing the program as an m.s. degree ofTheJohnshopkinsuniversity.

Dr.kossiakoff recognizedthat thiswasanewandimportantareatowhichhecouldmakeacontribution,andaswithallprojectsheundertook,heinvestedcon-siderabletimeandattentiontogetting it right.Afterinitialapprovalsweregainedfromthemarylandboardofeducation,apilotcohortwasformedfromApLstafftotakeprototypeversionsofeachofthecoursesthatprovidedfeedbackandreviewofthedeliveryandcon-tent of the curriculum. kossy was involved in everydetail,generatingnewviewgraphsandlearningobjec-tivesforeachlecture.hishighstandardsandrequire-mentstothoroughlyexplainthematerialstressedstu-dentsandfacultyalike.Dr.peterpandolfiniwasanearlyparticipant:

TheTechmanagementpilotcoursesdesignedbykossyweretough.hewasexperimentingtodeterminehowmuchmate-rialcouldreallyfit intoasemestercourse;oncethecoursewent“public”atrimmercurriculumwouldbeused...home-work required reading and thinking in several unfamiliardimensionsaswellasseveraldaysofreflectiontoaddressthematerialproperly.Writingwasanall-daysaturdayactivity—as was editing, editing, and more editing in the followingdaystosharpentheresponses.Thetwiceweeklydiscussions

withkossywerethehighlightof theprogram.hewastheorchestraleader,andhispresencewasfeltineveryclass.

Dr.keithpeacockwasagraduateofthefirstcohortandlaterbecameaninstructorinthecommunicationsinTechnicalorganizationscourseforover20years:

Thiscourse,morethananyoftheothers,representsthetrueessenceofkossy.itdealswiththeinteractionamongpeopleso ithasan immediateapplicationtoeverythingwedo inour professional and private lives. . . Working with kossyhasbeeneasy.helistensandmakessuggestionsandrecom-mendations,andanamicablediscussionleadstoagreement.buthecanalsobeverypersuasiveandshoweditisanenor-mousbenefitwhenyoucanresolvedifferencesinideaswithapersoninawaythatdoesnotcauseanystressordeteriora-tiontotherelationship.

Thecurriculumcontentwasvitallyimportanttokossy.herecognizedthatthiswasthebasisforeducatingthefuturegenerationoftechnicalmanagersandthattheirproblemswouldbemorecomplexandchallenging.every



discussion question and topic was subject to debate.kossy would endlessly edit material right up to classtime, and thiswasbefore the adventofmoderncom-puterdesktop tools tomake thechanges.Thecoursesweresequentiallyofferedtothepublicafterprototypingandacarefulvettingbetween1981and1984.

by 1985, word had already reached several localindustries and organizations about the relevance andvalue of the new Jhu Technical management pro-gram. kossy nervously accepted the invitation of themontgomery county council to establish a graduateeducation program in rockville, maryland. The newprogramwasgrowingandneededexperienced faculty,additionalteachinglocations,andnewstudentstobenurtured.itwasimportanttomaintainthequalityandreputation of the program in the new initiatives, andkossywas “hands-on” in every step.he recruited andinterviewed potential instructors and gained supporttoteachfirstatmontgomerycommunitycollegeandtheninalocalramadainn,beforeJhuopenedupitsowncenterinmontgomerycountyin1988.

over succeedingyears, theTechnicalmanagementprogramhasevolved,withinstructorsincorporatingtop-icalmaterials,scenariosandcasestudies,andlectures.The original curriculum changed when kossy sensedthe need for students to follow course concentrationsmoresuitedtotheirworkenvironmentthatcouldeitherbeontheprojectorthelinesideofthecareerladder,atypicaldifferentiation ina“matrix” structuredorgani-zation.TheTechnicalmanagementprogramwasthenorganizedsothatstudentscouldselectcoursesequenceswithaconcentrationineitherprojectmanagementororganizationalmanagement.Acombinationofthetwowasalsoavailablethatincluded10requiredcourses.

The history of the program development and thecoursesdevelopedbykossyarethoroughlydocumentedinotherissuesoftheTechnical Digest.1–3

SYSTEMS ENGINEERINGDr. kossiakoff’s vision of an effective Technical

managementprogramincludedthreeelements:organi-zationalmanagement,projectmanagement,andsystemsengineering.Theinitialcurriculumofthemaster’sdegreeinTechnicalmanagementfocusedonlyonthefirsttwooftheseelements.AfterthesuccessfulimplementationoftheTechnicalmanagementprogram,developmentofa systemsengineeringcurriculumbecamethe focusofkossy’senergies.inthe1985–1987timeframe,Westing-houseelectriccorporationapproachedtheLaboratorywithaproposaltosupportthedevelopmentofasystemsengineeringeducationcurriculumthatwasneeded forstaff development. Thus began a collaborative effortto create a series of courses that would prepare scien-tists and engineers to learn to think as systems engi-neers.3 one of the Westinghouse representatives, Dr.

raymondm.schulmeyer,whocontinuestoteachintheprogram,hasprovidedthefollowingrecollectionofthisendeavor:

Dr.kossiakoff ledthemeetings.Themeetingsweredemo-cratic,butitbecamecleartoallofusthatkossyknewwhereweweregoingandhowweweregoingtogetthere. . .Allthetimeputintothedevelopmentofthesystemsengineer-ing curriculum was above and beyond normal work tasks.Yetkossy’senergywasboundless. . .kossy’scritiquesweresometimesdifficult.heandhis teamhelpedusallbecomeexcellentteachers.hewasveryinvolvedintheclassexer-cises,theexams,andthehomeworkexercises...Theresultwastotallyworthwhile—directedandformulatedbyatrulyunique,honest,intelligent,andgreatleader.

After many years of teaching these courses as a con-centration in the Technical management master’sdegree program, a separate master’s degree in systemsengineering was implemented in 1997. This programhas attracted significant interest among students andemployersinvolvedinthedevelopmentofcomplexsys-tems,particularlyinthedefenseandspacearenas.

Dr.kossiakoffsawitasanobligationoftheuniversityandtheLaboratorytomaketheseeducationalprogramsavailabletoallwhocouldbenefit.Thus,ifthecurrentteaching locationswerenot readily accessible to com-munities of students who were interested and neededthiseducation,kossyfeltthatweneededtofixtheprob-lem.consequently,asaresultofthebaserealignmentandclosureActinthemid-1990s,andthemoveofthenaval Air systems command to the patuxent navalAirstationinsouthernmaryland,theprogrambegan



at that location in1997.Then, througharrangementswiththenavalseasystemscommand(nAVseA)incrystalcity,Virginia,thesystemsengineeringprogramwasintroducedatthatsitein1999toserveemployeesofthatorganizationandtheircontractors.

Despitehisdesiretoextendtheofferingsregionally,kossyhadseverereservationsaboutrespondingtotheinvitationofbAesystems(formerly,thesanderscorpo-ration,aLockheedmartincompany)basedinnashua,new hampshire. nevertheless, he agreed to meetwith representatives to hear their proposal, althoughprivately expressing his doubts. however, mr. JamesFasoli of bAe systems was most persuasive, and theresult has been a highly successful collaboration. mr.Fasolirecallsthatinitialmeeting,andtheresultingben-efitstothecompany:

Dr.kossiakofflistenedintentlyandwaskeenlyinterestedinourproblem.Wequicklycametoasolutionwithacustomofferingofthesecertificateandmastersprogram.underhisleadership,weformallyforgedapartnershiptostrengthenthe systems engineering capability at bAe systems andstretchJhu’soff-campusprogram...Throughouttheinitialplanning,Dr.kossiakoffremainedstronglyattentivetotheprogramaswepilotedthefirstcourse.hewaspresentandparticipated in the graduation of our first and subsequentfourcohorts...Theprogramremainsanessentialelementofourendeavorforexcellence.

havingopenedthedoortopartneringwithemployerstoofferthesystemsengineeringprogram,othercompa-nies expressed interest. in2002, anarrangementwiththe miTre corporation in bedford, massachusetts,was reached to teach themaster’sdegreeat that loca-tion. The following year, the program was introducedatthemcLean,Virginia,miTrelocation.ThemiTrerepresentativeatbedford,Dr.robertswarz,offers thefollowingthoughts:

After a miTre survey of graduate systems engineer-ingaround the country, it was decided that Jhu had theprogram with the best pedigree. i sent an email to kossy,whoihadnevermet,andaskedifhe’dbewillingtodiscussbringing a program to miTre in bedford, massachusetts,andheansweredpromptly,politely,andwithgreatenthusi-asm.ThefirstmeetingeventuallyledtosuccessfulprogramsattwomiTrecampuses.kossywasalwaysfirmbutflexible,energetic,professional,andajoytoworkwith.

The extensive efforts taken by Dr. kossiakoff indeveloping the individual course lectures and materi-als foundtheirway into thecourses inacollectionofpapers that was known as the “blue book” from thebluebinderprovidedtoeachstudent.eachsemesterthebinder grewas another sectionwas added, andas thenumberofstudentsandofferingsgrew,kossyrecognizedthattheuniquesystemsengineeringprogramsapproachofanintegratedsetofcoursesandthedetailedcontentthatexistedwouldbenefittheentiresystemsengineer-ing community. he began then the laborious task of

compilingthematerialintheformofabookthatwaspublishedinJanuary2003andisnowusedinmanycol-leges anduniversities across the country.4he enlistedthe help of one of the se faculty members, Williamsweet,intheprocess.

intypicalkossyfashion,heinsistedourwritingbetechni-callyaccurate,understandabletostudents,andmostimpor-tantly, convey the somewhat intangible spiritofwhat sys-tems engineering was all about. We felt that ApL had aspecialinsightintothisknowledgebecauseofmanyyearsofworkexperienceatthesystemslevelanduniqueleadershiprolesApLhadplayedduring thedevelopmentofcomplexsystems.indoingthisenjoyableandchallengingworkwithkossy, it isclearhewasagreatmanwhoalwayshadtimetohelpothers. . .hewasanindisputablescholar,awarmindividual,andalwaysagentleman.

Dr.kossiakoffdidnot limithis involvement insys-temsengineeringtoApLanduniversityendeavors,butalsowasanactivememberintheinternationalcouncilon systems engineering (incose). his participationisdescribedbyJameschism,anactivememberofthehopkins’systemsengineeringfacultyandpastpresidentofthechesapeakechapterofincose:

Dr. kossiakoff was one of the original and highly valuedmembers of the object-oriented systems engineeringmethod Working group of incose. . . his sage advicewasalwaysrightontarget.kossywasparticularlyinterestedin improving trainingcoursesonobject-orientedmethods,andusing them to instruct students in the Johnshopkinssystemsengineeringprograms.kossytaughtthememberstostayintellectuallycuriousandprofessionallyactive,notjustasaprofessionalnecessity,butasalaboroflove.hetaughtushowtoimproveourpeopleskillsbyreallylisteningfirstand thencommenting inabeneficialway to the task thatwasplacedonthetablefordiscussion...kossyhadunfailingintellectualenergy,curiosity,andcompletelyreliableenthu-siasmthathemanifestedatallourmeetings.Frequentlywewouldseehimgointohisofficetocontinueworkingafteroursaturdaymorningmeetings.

in2004,Dr.kossiakoffwasselectedasaFellowbyincoseforhiscontributionasapractitioner,researcherandteacherofsystemsengineering.

COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

AspartofDr.kossiakoff’slong-standinginterestincomputersandsoftwareengineering,hesawagreatneedtomaintaintheawarenessoftheLaboratory’smanagersabouttheapplicationsofthistechnologytotheirwork.Along with these extremely busy individuals carryingouttheirday-to-dayresponsibilities,hewasconcernedthat the taskof staying currentwith thewidevarietyofnewdevelopmentsinthefieldcouldbeoverwhelm-ing.Asweknow,hewasaproblemsolver, sohecon-vened an ad hoc information Technology committeetoaddress thisproblem.Threemembersof thegroup,robertgrossman,scottosborne,andmichaelDykton,describekossy’sapproach:



kossyknewthattherelationshipofApLwith its sponsorshas alwaysdependedonakeenunderstandingof technol-ogyingeneralandinformationtechnologyinparticular...kossysetupawarroomwithstoryboardswheretutorialarti-cles,taxonomies,andnoteswereposted,organized,movedaround,andreorganizedinanefforttoclassifyandorganizeinformation about the body of knowledge from an ApLviewpoint. . .kossywas an ardentproponentof distribut-ingarticlesonpaperratherthanelectronically.hisreason-ingwasthatpaper ismoreportableso itcanbecarriedto

engineering expertise and his recognition of the majorchallengeofapplyingthesystemsengineeringprocesstosoftware-intensivecomplexsystems.

HONORS

Kossiakoff Conference and Education Centeron18march1983,anewbuildingwasdedicatedto

Dr.kossiakoffontheApLcampus,consistingofa500-seatauditorium,classrooms,anddiningareas.ofallhishonors and recognition,having abuildingnamedafterhimwaskossy’shighestsourceofpride.Amongthemanydignitariesspeakingatthededication,ViceAdmirale.p.Traverscitedthelongassociationamongthenavy,theuniversity,andApL:

Wehavemadeapartnerbetweenthesailorandthescientistarealitywheretheintellectualcuriosityandinsightoftheuniversityistransformedintothepragmaticandrealworldofournation’sdefenses...manythingshavechangedandmanymorewill come,but theone constant is thequalityanddedicationofthepeopleatApL.Thereisprobablynobetterexampleofthisdedicationorpersonificationofscien-tificexcellencethanAlexanderkossiakoff.

Dr.kossiakoffaddedthat

The naming of the kossiakoff conference and educationcenterisagreatpersonalhonortome...iamprofoundlysympathetic to thepurposesof thiscenter. it representsagrandcapabilitytoenhancecommunication,exchangeideas,acquireknowledge,andconductavarietyofsocialoccasions.ThesearefundamentaltothesocietyatApL.Wehavedonethings well; we now have the capability to do them evenbetter.

President’s MedalDr.kossiakoff’slife-longcontributionstoTheJohns

hopkinsuniversitywasrecognizedbytheawardon16november2004ofthepresident’smedalbyJhupresi-dentDr.Williambrody:

itisapleasuretohavethechancetojointheJhuApLprin-cipalstaff in recognizing someof theachievementsof thepastyear.Thereis,however,onespecialachievementthati

airports,sponsorofficesandevenonvacationtrips.paperhasalsoproventobeharder todeleteor ignore . . .eacharticlewasgivenateaserpara-graphtobrieflydescribethetopicofthearticleandhowitmightrelatetothemanagerorLaboratory...kossycarriedthecombinedrespect,persua-sivenessanddedicationtoeducationtomaketheprojectasuccess.

in2001,kossyservedasamemberofacross-LaboratoryteamcharteredtorecommendacourseofactionastowhatdirectionApLshouldunder-takeinsupportofsoftwareengineer-ingandsoftwaredevelopment.herehe contributed throughhis systems

Kossy with his wife Arabelle Davies Kossiakoff.



wouldliketopersonallyrecognizethisevening.Forthatpur-poseatthistimeiwouldliketoaskDr.Alexanderkossiakofftojoinmeatthepodium.

Alexanderkossiakoffreceivedhisph.D.inchemistryfromJohns hopkins early in the term of the university’s fifthpresident,isaiahbowman.iamnowtheuniversity’s13thpresident, which suggests just how much history Dr. kos-siakoffhas seenandbeenpart of in the66 years sincehereceivedhisdegree.Wecouldmakeaverylongeveningofthis if iwere tobegin to listallofDr.kossiakoff’s contri-butionsandachievements inhis58yearsof servicetotheAppliedphysicsLab.Theveryfactthatwearemeetinginthe kossiakoff center—the gateway building to the ApLcampus—saysmostemphaticallywhaticouldonlyhopetosay:ApLtodaywouldnotbethetremendousorganizationithasbecomewereitnotforAlexanderkossiakoff.

Duringhis11yearsasDirectorofApLfrom1969to1980,andinthenearlyquartercenturysincespenthelpingJohnshopkins train the next generation of technical leaders aschief scientist and chair of the Technical managementandsystemsengineeringmanagementprograms,Dr.kos-siakoffhasled,excited,andinspiredthousands.hisworkhashelped defend our nation, enhance the capabilities of ournavy,pushtechnologyinnewandexcitingdirections,andbringsuccessivenewgenerationstoanunderstandingoftheuniquechallengesandopportunitiesofsystemsengineering.inrecognitionoftheseandmanyothercontributions,itismygreatpleasurethiseveningtopresentDr.Alexanderkos-siakoffwitha special recognitionofhis importance in thehistoryofJohnshopkins.

The president’s medal of The Johns hopkins universityisanhonorextendedbytheuniversitytoindividualswhohaveachievedunusualdistinction. ithasbeenawardedtoheadsofstate,membersoftheunitedstatescongressandsupremecourt,diplomats,literaryfigures,scientists,corpo-ratechiefexecutives,andothersofgreatachievement.

chief scientist and as a university leader in engineering education.”

Dr. kossiakoff, in recognition of your many outstand-ing accomplishments and your exceptional dedicationto the Johns hopkins Applied physics Laboratory, and toour nation’s defense, i am pleased and privileged to pres-entyouwith thepresident’smedalofThe Johnshopkins university.

MEMORIAL TRIBUTEon30october2005,amemorialTributewasheld

in the kossiakoff center for friends, colleagues, andfamilymembers to remember andhonorkossy forhisfriendship and life contributions. speakers from Jhu,directorsof theLaboratory,academicpeers,andnavysponsors were represented. The following are excerptsfromthemanytributesthatweregiven.

kossy made a significant contribution to every activity inwhich he was engaged. he provided strong scientific andtechnical leadership as well as dealing effectively withproblems in administration and management. And he didit continuously for a career that spanned some70years, aprodigiousaccomplishment!Whenhewasfacedwithsomedaunting technicalorprogrammatic issue,he gatheredhismost knowledgeable colleagues and worked the problemuntil he was sure that they had found the best availablesolution. problem-solving meetings could easily developintomarathon sessions.he seemedabsolutely tireless, andrelentlessly thorough. While he had a clear vision of theoverallproblem,hewasquitewillingtoworkonthedetailsaswell.headmittedtosomesatisfactioninworkingatthatlevel,andihavesomeappreciationofthataswell.Youcan’talwaysbedirecting; sometimesyouhave tobedoing. (Dr.carlbostrom,retiredDirectorofApL,1980–1992)

APL Directors, past and present. From left: Kossy, Carl Bostrom, Garry Smith, Eugene Hinman, and Rich Roca.

Among the recipients of this awardaresecretaryofstatecolinpowell,former president of the philippinescorazonAquino,supremecourtJus-tice William brennan, Toyota cor-porationchairmansoichiroToyoda,baltimore mayor William Donaldschaefer,pianistLeonFleisher,nov-elistsTomclancyandLeonuris,andthecrewofspaceshuttleDiscovery.

Today we are especially pleased toincludeAlexanderkossiakoffamongthe recipientsof thishonor.Letmereadthededicationthataccompaniesthismedal:

“The Johns hopkins universitypresident’s medal, presented withgratitude and esteem to Alexanderkossiakoff for extraordinary con-tributions to The Johns hopkinsuniversity Applied physics Labora-tory,beginningwithhisguidedmis-siledevelopmentworkinthe1940s,through his tenure as LaboratoryDirector (1969–1980), and con-tinuing today in his role as ApL’s



THE AUTHORS

samuelJ.seymour

Samuel J. Seymourreceivedab.s.inchemistryfromtherochesterinstituteofTechnologyin1968andaph.D.inphysicalchemistryfromtheuniversityofillinois.sincejoiningApLin1973,Dr.seymourhasconductedresearchandmanaged

programsinthesubmarineTechnologyandstrategicsystemsdepartments.hebecametheLabo-ratorybusinesscoordinatorin1991andalsoservesasthebusinessAreaexecutiveforemergingbusiness,DeputychiefQualityofficer,andfacilitatorforthebusinessreviewcommittee.Dr.seymourhastaughtmanagementandsystemsengineeringcoursesintheJhuengineeringpro-gramsforprofessionalsformorethan20yearsandservesasthestudentprogramsadvisorandcoor-dinatorofthepartnershipprograms.hewasappointedVicechairoftheTechnicalmanagement

JamesL.Teesdale

andsystemsengineeringprogramsin1998.James L. Teesdale,amemberoftheprincipalprofessionalstaff,istheDirectoroftheApLeducationcenter.heisagraduateofmacmurraycollegeandjoinedtheLaboratoryin1969.hehascontributedtoApL’sinternaltraininganddevelopmentprogramsaswellasthegraduateeducationprogramsofferedinpartner-shipwiththeJhuWhitingschoolofengineering.heservesontheApLscienceandTechnologycouncilandtheJhucommitteeonpart-Timeeducation.Forfurtherinformationonthissubecte-mailDr.seymouratsam.seymour@jhuapl.edu.

As i lookback, tomehewas likea conductorof amajororchestra,overseeingthehiringandproperarrangementoftheindividualplayers,selectingthemusictheywouldplay,organizingand rehearsing them individuallyand ingroupsand constantly striving to ensure that each performancewas“world-class.”however,unlikeaconductor,hehadnoneedtobeoutfront.hepreferredtolettheplayersdotheirthingoncehewassuretheyhadproperlyprepared...Whenpeople were asked by kossy to help, they couldn’t say nobecausetheyknewhewouldalwaysbetheretohelpthemwhen they needed it. . . This Laboratory, this university,andthisnationaredeeplyinhisdebt.Andthoseofyoustillactively engaged in ApL’s service to our nation have thechallengingtaskofcontinuingtoliveuptohisexpectations.(Dr.garysmith,retiredDirectorofApL,1992–1999)

kossyhasleftanindelibleimprintonApL,devotingallhisenergiestotheLaboratory.hewasapersistentworld-classproblem solver and instilled this culture atApL.my timewithkossywasafractionofhis91years...butidoknowthatwheniarrivedatApL,iwasuncertainhowitwasgoingto feel being the Director of an institution with a formerDirector—one might say, the former Director—present ona day-to-day basis. Would there be cheerleading from the sidelines,coaching,orsomethingelse?Fromthestartitwasclear that this kindly, experiencedmanwould supportmeasiwished:coachingwhenthatwasneededandcheerlead-ingwhenthatwascalledfor.noleaderhaseverbeenbetterservedbyapredecessor than iwasbykossy. (Dr.richardroca,Director2000–present)

occasionally,anindividualwillcomealongwhonotonlyleads an organization, but also becomes, by virtue of hisachievements and personal qualities, an embodiment andambassadorofall thebestqualities theorganizationrepre-sents.suchistheenduringlegacyofAlexanderkossiakoff,knowntosomanywithamixtureof fondnessandawe,as

“kossy.”kossywilllongberememberedandhonoredastheindividual who gave shape and direction to the AppliedphysicsLaboratoryasweknow it today.underhis leader-ship,ApLdevelopedadvancedsystemsforradar,airdefense,strategiccommunications,submarineoperationsandspace-craft to advance national security and space science. Dr.kossiakoff led, excited, and inspired thousands. his workhelped defend our nation, enhance the capabilities of ournavy,pushtechnologyinnewandexcitingdirections,andbringsuccessivenewgenerationstoanunderstandingoftheuniquechallengesandopportunitiesofsystemsengineering.butmorethanthat,AlexanderkossiakoffwasdedicatedtothecorecompetenciesthatarethebedrockvaluesofApL:loveofcountry;beliefinthevalueofscienceandtechnol-ogy; commitment to engineering excellence; openness tonewapproachesandnewideas;enthusiasmforinnovation;and a willingness always to be amazed, excited and capti-vatedbytheideasofothers.Theseattributeshelpedkossybuild not only a great research laboratory, but also just asimportantly,agreatcircleoffriendsandadmirerswhodeeplymournhispassing.hismanycontributionstotheLab,andtothenationthatbecamehishome,willberememberedandhonored foryears tocome.(Dr.Williambrody,president,TheJohnshopkinsuniversity)

reFerences 1kossiakoff,A.,“Thehistoryofthemaster’sDegreeprograminTech-

nical management,” Johns Hopkins APL Tech. Dig. 10(2), 154–161(1989).

2Thompson,r.J.,andkossiakoff,A.,“Themaster’sDegreeprogramin Technical management,” Johns Hopkins APL Tech. Dig. 10(2),162–173(1989).

3seymour,s.J.,andkossiakoff,A.,“TheTechnicalmanagementandsystemsengineeringprograms,”Johns Hopkins APL Tech. Dig.26(3),243(2005).

4kossiakoff,A., andsweet,W.n.,Systems Engineering Principles and Practice,Wileyandsons,inc.,hoboken,nJ(2003).

alexander kossiakoff: his life and career, part two · 12 johns hopkins apl technical digest ......

Documents