Don Richard Ostrander
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Don Richard Ostrander was born on 24 September 1914 in Stockbridge, MI.

Ostrander began his military career upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1937 and being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. An engineer, during World War II he helped modify the P-38 airplane to accommodate a bombardier with the Norden Bombsight. He also served as bombardier on the initial test missions of this aircraft over Europe.

After the war, he served as Chief of Plans, Engineering Division, of the newly formed U.S. Air Force Command. From 1950-54, he was Deputy Commander, 6540th Missile Test Wing and was Assistant Deputy Commander for Weapon Systems from 1955-58. In 1959, as Deputy Commander of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, he became Director of NASA's Launch Vehicle Programs responsible for the Saturn program.

He retired from the Air Force as a Major General and as Vice Commander of the Ballistic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, on 16 October 1965.

Death and Burial

Major General Don Richard Ostrander died on 26 October 1972. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.