Reflections of a Technocrat: Managing Defense, Air, and Space Programs during the Cold War

摘要

A standard dictionary definition of technocrat-"a technical expert, especially one in a managerial or administrative position"-does not do justice to the accomplishments of Dr. John McLucas, the 10th secretary of the Air Force, as outlined in his book, Reflections of a Technocrat. To call this an autobiography is also to undersell the broader historical context it provides. Neither is it a simple historical record of dry lessons learned. Dr. McLucas writes in an engaging style that shies away from sermonizing. The narrative is so seamless and absorbing that it seems that the reader is having a conversation with an important uncle whose life's work was never fully explained to him or her. Upon listening to Dr. McLucas's personal history, one can't help describing it as the life experiences of Forrest Gump (the author is a self-admitted product of the "Deep South") (p. 4) augmented by the innovative dossier of Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works.