Ben Rich (engineer)
Ben Rich | |
|---|---|
| Born | Benjamin Robert Rich June 18, 1925 |
| Died | January 5, 1995 (aged 69) Ventura, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BS) University of California, Los Angeles (MS) Harvard Business School |
| Known for | Regarded as the "Father of stealth" |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Aeronautical engineering |
| Employer(s) | Lockheed (Skunk Works) |
| Projects | U-2 SR-71 Blackbird F-117 Nighthawk F-22 Raptor |
Benjamin Robert Rich (June 18, 1925 – January 5, 1995) was an American engineer and the second director of Lockheed's Skunk Works from 1975 to 1991, succeeding its founder, Kelly Johnson. Regarded as the "father of stealth", Rich was responsible for leading the development of the F-117, the first production stealth aircraft. He also worked on the F-104, U-2, A-12, SR-71, and F-22, among others.