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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Leader

Honored by:
Ms. Elizabeth Felsecker

James Andrew Murray, Jr (3 January, 1927 - 5 August, 2000) was an Electronics Engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory who specialized in Precise Time and Frequency. He was a recipient of the 1992 Collier Award along with his team for his contributions to the development of GPS technology. Global Positioning Satellite technology opened a myriad of practical and scientific opportunities to the world, and certainly to aviation. His achievements throughout his career were enhancements to science, including aviation and space. For example, in 1964 he developed a phase-locked control system to generate standard frequencies from hydrogen maser output, which made the hydrogen maser practical as a frequency standard. It was proven superior to the cesium beam standard in short-term frequency stability, and was used by the Naval Observatory in its determination of standard time and time interval.
He developed precise on air frequency monitoring equipment for SSB frequency-division multiplex for a fleet communications exercise, which was later used to improve communications in the West Pacific area in 1966.
He developed a shipboard central time and frequency system for use aboard the NIMITZ which dramatically improved the accuracy shared among multiple systems.
In 1970, he developed a means for clock comparisons via satellite for world-wide precise time system. This made it possible to distribute the accurate time reference of the Naval Observatory to systems in many distant areas. The timing network eliminated the need for long-distance transportation of clocks, and also provided significant advantages to satellite systems.
He also developed pseudo-noise time transfer modem for use over satellite and line-of-sight links. These allowed time transfer links in areas not already equipped with a suitable communications modem in Kwajalein and Hawaii.
He authored a number of scientific papers and was the Editor, IEEE Group on Instrumentation and
Measurements Newsletter.
Mr. Murray frequently sailed on the Potomac, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. He volunteered from 1970 to 2000 for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, both on the water and providing instruction and demonstrations.
Before attending George Washington University, he served in the US Army Air Corps. He played the accordion and the piano, excelled at chess, and was a life-long amateur radio operator. He was funny, generous, brilliant, quiet, and thoughtful. He was a son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, who was deeply admired and loved.