Andrew Alford

Biography

Born: August 5, 1904

Died: January 25, 1992

Andrcw Alford was born in Samara, Russia. He earned his AB Degree from the University of California, in 1924. and continued as a graduate student under a fellowship in physics and astronomy, from 1924 to 1926. From 1927 to 1928, he was a graduate student and teaching fellow at the California Institute of Technology. In 1975, Mr. Alford received a Doctor of Applied Science degree with honors from Ohio University.

From 1929 to 1930. Mr. Alford worked in the Fox Film Corporation's laboratory and in 1934. hc began engineering work a MacKay Radio and Telegraph Company. In 1939. he began dividing his work time between MacKay and the International Telegraph Development Corporation. Mr. Alford was appointed head of ITT's Navigation Laboratory in 1941. Between 1943 and 1945 he was first group leader of the Antenna Group and then division head of the Direction Finder and Antenna Division at Harvard University's Radio Research Laboratory. He founded Andrew Alford Consulting Engineers in 1945 and Alford Manufacturing Company in 1948.

Mr. Alford received the IRE Fellow Award in 1942 for "contributions to the theory of radiation and the design of short-wave antennas." He also received the Pioneer Award in 1965, "in recognition of inventions which have found wide use in radio navigation systems including VOR and instrument landing systems. The term 'Alford Loop' has become a byword in the art. He has also made other notable technical contributions to radio navigation systems and to antennas for a variety of purposes. Other awards include the Presidential Certificate of Merit National Defense Research Committee, 1948; Scott Helt Award, 1978; National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee, 1983.

Mr. Alford was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen (Glaser) Alford of Winchester, Massachusetts.