Clifford Furnas

Clifford Cook Furnas (October 24, 1900 – April 27, 1969) was an American author, Olympic athlete, scientist, expert on guided missiles, university president, and public servant.

[1] Furnas participated in the 5,000-meter event at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

[2] He taught chemical engineering at Yale University, and directed the airplane division of Curtiss-Wright during World War II.

[2] Between 1955 and 1957 he was on a leave of absence to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense during the Eisenhower administration.

[3] He retired from the University of Buffalo in 1966 and died in 1969 at age 68.