Donald Aubrey Quarles (July 30, 1894 – May 8, 1959) was a communications engineer, senior level executive with Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric, and a top official in the United States Department of Defense during the Eisenhower Administration.

[4] In September 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Quarles Assistant Secretary of Defense for research and development.

As Secretary, Quarles stressed the need to use cutting edge technology to maintain military superiority over the Soviet Union.

He supported expanded funding for research and development programs, and pressed for rapid fielding of B-52 Stratofortress, F-102 Delta Dagger, and F-104 Starfighter aircraft.

Beginning at noon on May 11, 1959, his casket lay in the Bethlehem Chapel at the Washington National Cathedral for twenty-four hours.

A military escort, consisting of one platoon each from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard lead the funeral procession to the grave site.

The Quarles Range was named at the outset of the International Geophysical Year and organization of U.S. activity in Antarctica.