Norman Augustine
Norman Augustine
Full Name and Common Aliases
Norman Augustine is commonly known as Norman R. Augustine.
Birth and Death Dates
Norman R. Augustine was born on April 27, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is still alive today.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Augustine is an American engineer, businessman, and author. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in the aerospace industry, including serving as the CEO of Lockheed Martin from 1990 to 1997.
Early Life and Background
Norman Augustine was born into a family of modest means. His father, William R. Augustine, was an engineer, and his mother, Helen (née Cernuda), was a homemaker. Growing up during World War II had a profound impact on Augustine's early life, as he watched his father work on the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. This experience sparked his interest in science and technology from a young age.
Augustine attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from Columbia University. After completing his education, Augustine began his career as an engineer at Douglas Aircraft Company (now part of Boeing).
Major Accomplishments
Augustine's professional accomplishments are numerous and impressive. Some of his most notable achievements include:
CEO of Lockheed Martin: During his tenure as CEO, Augustine led the company to unprecedented success, including a significant increase in revenue and market share.
Chairman of the National Academy of Engineering: In this role, Augustine played a key part in shaping the country's engineering education and research policies.
Author of "Augustine's Laws": This collection of humorous essays on management and leadership has become a bestseller.Notable Works or Actions
Augustine has written several books, including:
"Augustine's Laws" (1997): A humorous collection of essays on management and leadership.
* "The Rise of the Machines" (2015): A thought-provoking exploration of the impact of automation on society.
Impact and Legacy
Norman Augustine's contributions to the aerospace industry, education, and public policy have had a lasting impact. His commitment to promoting STEM education and his leadership in shaping engineering research policies have inspired generations of engineers and scientists.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Augustine is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful comments on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology. His ability to distill complex ideas into simple, memorable phrases has made him a sought-after speaker and author. As a pioneer in the aerospace industry and a champion of STEM education, Augustine continues to inspire and influence leaders across various fields.
As a renowned engineer, businessman, and author, Norman Augustine's legacy will continue to shape the course of innovation for years to come.
Quotes by Norman Augustine

Aircraft flight in the 21st century will always be in a westerly direction, preferably supersonic, crossing time zones to provide the additional hours needed to fix the broken electronics.

In my view the organization has been far more successful than I dreamed it would be. But my view is also that it's still an unproved experiment.

In the year 2054, the entire defense budget will purchase just one aircraft. This aircraft will have to be shared by the Air Force and Navy 3-1/2 days each per week except for leap year, when it will be made available to the Marines for the extra day.

The last 10 percent of performance generates one-third of the cost and two-thirds of the problems.

The average regulation has a life span one-fifth as long as a chimpanzee's and one-tenth as long as a human's - but four times as long as the official's who created it.

The most unsuccessful four years in the education of a cost-estimator is fifth grade arithmetic.

If sufficient number of management layers are superimposed on top of each other, it can be assured that disaster is not left to chance.

One-tenth of the participants produce over one-third of the output. Increasing the number of participants merely reduces the average output.

Software is like entropy: It is difficult to grasp, weighs nothing, and obeys the Second Law of Thermodynamics; i.e., it always increases.

Never promise to complete a project within six months of the end of the year--in either direction.