Gerald M. Truszynski was Deputy Director of the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition, the NASA office in Washington responsible for providing the ground tracking and data acquisition facilities and networks for the support of all NASA space flight programs. Jerry was awarded NASA’s second highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Medal, three times for his work on Apollo 8, Apollo 11, and the Tracking stations.
Born in Jersey City, N.J., in 1921, Mr. Truszynski received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University and joined the staff of the NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, where he worked on instrument research and development.
In 1947 he transferred to the NACA Flight Research Center as the instrumentation project engineer on the original X-1 rocket research aircraft. In 1954 he was promoted to Chief, Instrumentation Division, with responsibility for development and operation of all internal on-board research instrumentation, airborne and ground telemetering systems, ground radar tracking systems and initial automatic data reduction and computing systems required in support of the research aircraft tests conducted by the Center. These included the X-1, X-2, X-3, D 558, X-5, and X-15 as well as several advanced technical aircraft utilized for research purposes as the F-100 and F-104. He was directly involved in the technical configuration, establishment, and subsequent total operation of the X-15 ground tracking and data acquisition network extending from Edwards Air Force Base into Nevada.
In 1960, he transferred to NASA Headquarters as Chief, Operations in the Office of Space Flight Operations. Upon establishment of the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition he was appointed Deputy Director in November 1961. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his participation in the Apollo program.
“Jerry” lived in Chevy Chase, MD. He enjoyed the outdoors, his hobby farm in West Virginia, playing the piano and traveling. Beloved husband of 57 wonderful years to the late Helen R. Truszynski; loving father of Joan T. (James) Lolcama and Carl G. (Nancy) Truszynski; cherished grandfather of Christina Ochoa and James Lolcama, Jr. Jerry passed away in December of 2012 in Aurora, CO.
Jerry’s book, Space Communications: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013909752&seq=1