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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLIGHT AND SPACE EXPLORATION; ACHIEVEMENT, INVOLVEMENT, SPECIAL INTEREST IN AIR AND SPACE EXPLORATION

1. CAREER SUMMARY:
Dr. Algirdas Vincas Kanauka, born March 10,1931, in Kaunas, Lithuania, in the family of Professor Dr. Vincas Kanauka (MD).
1944-1949 lived in Germany. Immigrated to the United States in 1949. Served as Electronic Warfare Officer and R&D Engineer with the Strategic Air Command and AIR Force Systems Command of the United States Air Force. Retired from the US Air Force in 1976 with the rank of Major. Among decorations earned - Air Force Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal. In civilian life worked in California aerospace industry: Hughes Hellicopter Division of Summa Corporation, Resdel Engineering Inc, and The Aerospace Corporation holding positions as Member of the Technical Staff, Program Manager, Engineer and Project Engineer.
After the fall of Soviet Union, during 1992-2003 time period. Dr. Kanauka became advisor to the Defence Staff of Lithuanian Armed Forces and visiting professor to the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. Educational background includes Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from The Military College of South Carolina - The Citadel; Master's Degree in Business Administration from University of Dayton; Master of Science Degree in Systems Management and Doctor's Degree in Public Administration, both from University of Southern California.

2. US AIR FORCE CAREER INVOLVEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, CONTRIBUTION, SPECIAL INTERESTS:
In 1959 -1961 served on a combat crew of the 4130th Strategic Bombardment Wing, Bergstrom Air force Base in Texas as an Electronic Warfare Officer during a difficult period of the Cold War flying airborne alert missions under project Chrome Dome. In 1961 joined the 305th Bombardment Wing, at Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana as Defense Systems Officer on a B-58 supersonic bomber crew during the combat readiness-upgrading phase of that aircraft in which he actively participated. He also took part in flight tests of the communications system of that aircraft.
In 1964 was assigned to Air Force Avionics Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Development Center as R&D engineer for electronic reconnaissance projects. Manned Orbital Laboratory and in 1966 to F-lll Systems Program Office as a project manager for terrain following and attack radars. In 1968 he was assigned on Air Force Systems Command's team attached to Harvest Reaper and Combat Lancer operations in South East Asia whose mission was to test the F-111A fighter aircraft in combat. Major Kanauka collected and evaluated data in the field and edited as well as authored several comprehensive reports on Terrain Following Radar, Inertial Navigation, Penetration Aids and Attack Radar systems, which were later very useful in modification efforts to improve the combat effectiveness of this aircraft. Bronze Star for Merit was received for this effort. Upon return to the US continued work at the F-lll Systems Program Office as Assistant director for FB-111 programs. In 1971 was assigned to Foreign Technology Division and served as Liaison Officer in Europe making significant contributions to Air Force's understanding of the state of micro technology. Was awarded Meritorious Service Medal for this effort. From 1975 Served as Reconnaissance director in a squadron of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Flew missions in RC-135 aircraft that were of national significance. Retired from the United States Air Force in November 1976.

3. INVOLVEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, CONTRIBUTION, SPECIAL INTERESTS IN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
A) Hughes Helicopter Division of Summa Corporation,
B) Resdel Engineering INC,
C) The Aerospace Corporation:
A) At Hughes Helicopters, as Program Element Manager was responsible for meeting cost, schedule and performance goals for integration of avionics into the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter, with special responsibility for implementing the survivability countermeasures suite into this weapons system.
B) As program manager at Resdel Engineering INC was responsible for managing microelectronics projects for US government and aerospace industry.
C) At The Aerospace Corporation, worked as a Project Engineer, in charge of Single Channel Transponder Injection System (SCTIS) development which was to serve the National Command and Control Authorities as an emergency satellite communication system. Managed the flight test program for this system for optimal interaction among aircraft, satellites and ground stations in the US and overseas. In 1985 as project engineer was responsible for significant planning and implementation aspects of an operation which achieved an intentional collision between one of the US satellites and a three stage missile launched from an F-15 fighter aircraft, in order to determine the advantages and disadvantages of such and approach. During the last phases of the Cold War supported the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program's survivability aspects.

4. INVOLVEMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, CONTRIBUTION, SPECIAL INTEREST IN LITHUANIA AFTER IT REGAINED INDEPENDENCE:
1992-2003 Upon an invitation by the Lithuanian Minister of Defense, most of this time Dr. Kanauka served as adviser to the Defence Staff of Lithuanian Armed Forces and The Military Academy of Lithuania. Having been born in Lithuania and having spent a career in The United States Air Force and aerospace industry, he was interested and able to transfer some of the American experience to the benefit of Lithuanian officer corps and the education of military cadets. Also, Dr. A. Kanauka organized a team of English and Lithuanian speaking members of the Diaspora that translated the first version of NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions AAP 6 into Lithuanian. He was also instrumental in establishing international relations with numerous military academies of the West thus assisting the Military Academy of Lithuania to benefit through international conferences, as well as student and faculty exchanges. Dr. Kanauka gave numerous lectures on public administration, military history and aerospace technology to cadets and graduate students of the academy.